Canada : Macdonald Youth Services workers set to strike today
Employees with Macdonald Youth Services are ready to strike Tuesday morning after being without a collective bargaining agreement since 2014.
About 28 counsellors will walk at 8 a.m., according to the
"We're dumbfounded that we're finding ourselves in this position. You can't get any more public service than these folks do," said union president Michelle Gawronsky.
Macdonald Youth Services help young people needing shelter, are in violent situations, and they assist with suicide prevention.
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The employees are asking for a two per cent wage increase and Gawronsky said it would cost the government under $100,000 to meet their demands.
"We don't understand how other groups have been afforded this deal, the two per cent increase, without having the hassle, without having to go to this length, and to end up in a strike position," Gawronsky said.
The previous government committed to the wage increase over four years, according to a MGEU news release.
Manitoba Youth Services will have reduced service levels during the strike and information about the probable impacts are on their Facebook page.