Winnipeg, Manitoba — Last Monday, more than 1,700 unionized Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) workers walked off the job. But Ferd Klassen says it’s not “panic mode” amid the autobody industry–at least, not yet.
“[MPI] is constantly adjusting things on the fly,” said Klassen, the vice president of Manitoba’s Automotive Trades Association (ATA) and owner of Niverville Autobody. “As the week has progressed, shops have expressed their concerns to the ATA. As such, ATA execs have been in discussions with our insurer to make adjustments that allow shops to keep going.
“I don’t feel that the trade, as a whole, is panicking. There are certain aspects of our day-to-day that we may be unsure of, but we’re working closely with MPI to adjust on the fly and process supplements, requests, final payments and so on.”
The number one goal for many Manitoban bodyshops, like countless others across Canada, is working through a slew of backlogged repairs.
“Almost every collision centre here is booking six weeks, to eight weeks out.”
Klassen said he’s willing to bet that most shops will not be adjusting their schedules, even if claims do stop rolling through for a month or two.
“It doesn’t matter who I talk to–there are very few shops that are booking less than a month out.”
Facilities with direct repair partnerships with MPI are allowed to create their own estimates, but there is a limit on what types of losses can be written by the collision centre.
“Now, they’re letting shops write everything.”
He explained that every direct repair shop has an EAL–an earned authority limit–allowing them to write estimates and begin repairs as long as the car is not marginal or a total loss consideration.
“We’re allowed to repair and collect payment for anything that meets our EAL or under,” explained Klassen. “MPI has upped that limit twice since Monday [when the strike began] as one of their tactics to make sure shops get paid.”
Some of the larger supplements awaiting MPI approval are likely to sit waiting for repairs regardless of the job action, considering the significant backlogs in the North American market.
“The shops that do have works in progress and require supplements are the ones we’re concerned about. Those concerns have been passed on to the insurer and they’re working to mitigate that as well.”
For now, it’s business as usual. But, if anything changes, Klassen and the ATA will be ready to discuss with their public insurer.
“We have to respect what the strikers are doing, and we have to be able to continue serving our own customers.”
The ATA and MPI maintain a good relationship, said Klassen, where the public insurer openly listens to repairer concerns to make adjustments, when possible.
“The professionalism in Manitoba is showing itself. It’s incredible how positive most of the shops are about this. And, myself, as a shop owner, I am not overly concerned–yet.”
For the time being, drivers can submit claims through MPI’s virtual portal.
