False promises from NDP to blame for Macdonald Youth Services strike, province says

The Pallister government maintains it isn'tresponsible for a conflict thatforced more than two dozenworkers to walk off the job, andthe fact that they were possiblypaid with public moneyfor their time on the picket line is a problem, a spokesperson with the province says.

"Unfortunately, the NDP routinely created false and unrealistic expectations on broader funding commitments in labour relations matters.The reality is that a decade of politically-motivated decisions by the NDP has created significant fiscal sustainability challenges," aspokesperson with the province wrote in a statement Friday.

Twenty-eight youth crisis workers with Macdonald Youth Serviceswent on strike two weeks ago. Workers were demanding an annual two per cent wage increase over the next four years that they claimed the previous NDP government had promised them.

But that hasn'thappened.MichelleGawronsky, Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU), saidthe Progressive Conservative government blocked MYS CEOErmaChapman from using surplus funds she wanted to usetohonour thatNDP commitment.

"The request to use surplus funds was only recently brought to our attention," the spokesperson with the province said.

"Funds givento Macdonald Youth Services by Manitoba taxpayers are intended to be used for specific projects and programming and it is the expectation of our government that MYS will ensure those dollars are utilized as intended."

Gawronskysaid the unionis disappointed its members had to enter a return-to-work agreement and get back on the jobwithout a contract Friday.

• Macdonald Youth Services counsellors end strike, return to work
• Macdonald Youth Services workers strike

ThePallistergovernment committed to protecting frontline services in the lead up to the April election.Gawronskysaid the Tories arenow going back on that promiseby not giving the youth workers what they've demanded.

The province has stated that it is not the employer ofMYS workers and isnot obligated to honour anyproposed increase in funding the previous administration may have made.

"While Child and Family Services is not the employer here, it is responsible for ensuring the value of its funding to service providers," the provincial spokesperson added.

'Keep families together'

Youth crisis workers with MYS look after teens that may be suicidal or struggling with mental or emotional issues.Itoffers supports and shelter to young people in fleeing violent situations, including those facing family conflict and sexual exploitation.

Counsellors at MYSalso assistschool guidancecounsellorsto help young students experiencing the same issues.

"They try and maintain families and keep families together,"Gawronskysaid. "[It's an] important, important service for Manitobans."

Gawronskysaid workers should be granted the same wage increase "other folks in the same sector have been enjoying," pointing toorganizations like the Winnipeg Regional Healthy Authority.

"I believe that the funding is coming through the government and that they are refusing to provide the funding for the frontline services for teens in trouble in Manitoba," she said.

"To have these folks out on the picket line [indefinitely] is just not good for the services they'reproviding,"Gawronskyadded, referring to the decision that sent workers back on the job without a contract.

Pay during strike

They may be back on the job without a contract, butChapman didpay the workers during the strike what they would'veearned on the job, Gawronsky said.

The province says that if workers were indeed paid during the strike, that could be an issue.

"Child and Family Services is awaiting clarification regarding the return to work agreement, but would be concerned if public money intended for service delivery has been committed to workers who obviously did not work during their strike action," a spokesperson with the province said.

"Manitoba's new government continues to urge both sides to seek a responsible and sustainable collective agreement based on realistic expectations reflecting the larger financial challenges facing the province."

Gawronskyand Chapman have filed a request to have an urgent meeting with Families Minister Scott Fielding to press for higher wages for MYS workers.