Macdonald Youth Services counsellors end strike, return to work

After strikingfor more than two weeks, Macdonald Youth Services counsellorsare heading back to work.

The approximately 28 employees will return to their jobs on Friday, Aug. 19 at 7 a.m. The strike had officially begun Tuesday, Aug. 2.

• Macdonald Youth Services workers strike

A return to work agreement was reached with the union and Macdonald Youth Services but bargaining will still continue,said the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU).

"It's a bittersweet today, they're very glad the strike is over," said MGEUpresidentMichelleGawronsky.

"We're back to square one at the bargaining table."

The province blocked MYS CEOErmaChapman from using surplus funds to honour an NDP commitment to raise MYS wages by two per cent annually for the next four years, saidGawronsky.

"It's a disappointment," Gawronsky said.

"They're very, very upset with the new government. They're feeling very disrespected."

The MYS workers have been without a collective agreement since 2014.

According to MGEU, wages for MYS workers are so low workers are leaving the youth in crisis system for better paying wages in the adult system.

MYS offers supports and shelter to young people in fleeing violent situations, including those facing family conflict, sexual exploitation.Counsellorsalso assist with suicide prevention and mental health.

"There's a retention problem that folks don't often stay, they'll move on to bigger and better wages and [Chapman]was trying to help provide a solution to some of that," saidGawronsky.

"This government isn't recognizing the services that they provide and don't recognize the need to compete and keep counsellors."

A provincial spokesperson on Friday put the blame for "unrealistic expectations" on the previous NDP government.

"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," the spokesperson said.

"While Child and Family Services is not the employer here, it is responsible for ensuring the value of its funding to service providers. In this instance, the request to use surplus funds was only recently brought to our attention.

"Funds given to 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."

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

• Youth crisis workers toil without contract as manager pay bumped: MGEU