Almost 500 CFS workers set to strike in Manitoba

As many as 500 frontline workers at three child welfare agencies in Manitoba could soon be heading to the picket line after voting against the latest offers from the province.

Without a contract since March 2022, 170 workers at Southeast Child and Family Services are set to go on strike, joining over 330 workers from the Métis Child and Family Services Authority who have also submitted strike mandates. 

“We believe the best results come when we negotiate at the table, but unfortunately these workers have been put in a position to consider strike action,” said Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU) president, Kyle Ross.

With funding being the crux of the issue Ross says his members want to keeping working, but are seeking a wage increase of 14 percent over four years, to bring them equal with those working in the civil service.

“We know these families need these supports, and those supports will be harder to come by if a strike happens, and that is not what we want,” said Ross.

Mona Buors, Minister of Child and Family Services with the Manitoba Métis Federation, says she understands the reasoning behind union members voting to strike as resources from the province have been lacking.

“We don’t blame the union at all,” she said. “It’s the province that is not funding us the way they should and it’s a historical issue.” 

She says with the authority handling over 1,800 cases between both agencies conversations about real investment need to happen.

“We have not met with the province on this issue as of yet, and we need to talk,” she said.

The possibility of three CFS agencies striking all at once is a scenario President of the Manitoba Foster Parent Association, Jamie Pfau, has never heard of happening before, but she’s not entirely surprised and MGEU members are not to blame. Foster parents have long fought for an increase in basic maintenance rates for children, which have sat at just 22 dollars a day since 2012.

“They are not the bad guy in this situation, and neither are foster parents,” she said. “We need to be adequately funding and supported.”

In a statement to CityNews a spokesperson from the Province says it “recognizes the important work of those who help some of our most vulnerable children and youth and we know the best deals for workers are reached at the table.”