Man on MPI picket line suffers minor injuries in assault outside Manitoba Legislature, police say

A 41-year-old man who was on a picket line with striking Manitoba Public Insurance workers Tuesday morning was physically assaulted, Winnipeg police say.

The assault happened in front of the Manitoba Legislative Building, where MPI workers from the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union were picketing.

Officers arrived on Broadway around 9:20 a.m. and arrested a 29-year-old man, police said in a statement.

The man approached a group of strikers and verbally confronted the picketer before physically assaulting him, police said.

Picketers held the man until officers arrived.

The picketer has minor injuries but was medically cleared by the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.

The picketer and the man, who faces an assault charge, did not know each other, police said.

An MGEU spokesperson said in an email that two other striking workers were also assaulted.

"Today, at the MPI picket at the Manitoba Legislature, three of our members were physically assaulted by an unknown person, one of which required medical attention,"the spokesperson said.

MGEU workers from MPI have been on strike since Aug. 28.