The inescapable reality is that ending the pre-retirement bonus benefit is a relatively small sacrifice in the grand scheme of the work needed to make Manitoba’s healthcare system sustainable.
There are some things people are generally willing to do without being paid: have a nap, eat ice cream, take a day off, etc. Most people, after decades at a good job with a generous pension, aren’t short of reasons to retire so the concept of giving employees a pre-retirement bonus is a bit odd.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of a pre-retirement bonus, the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union describes this benefit under the title Pre-Retirement Bonus in its collective bargaining agreement with the Winnipeg Region Health Authority.