Workers at Metis, Michif Child and Family services hit the picket line

Two weeks after pleading for a fair deal, frontline workers from Metis and Michif Child and Family services hit the picket lines Tuesday morning.

In total, more than 300 workers at the two agencies walked off the job Tuesday, with about 100 hitting the streets outside of the Metis Child, Family and Community Services building on Portage Avenue.

MGEU President Kyle Ross laments having to take strike action but says his members deserve to be fairly compensated.

“These are vulnerable people that are not getting the full services that they should be getting as expected.  And we want to get this resolved in a way that is fair for these workers and fair for Manitobans,” said Ross.

“I’m sure they were all checking their email this morning hopeful we could strike a deal last night. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen; we weren’t given he opportunity.”

Ross says emergency services will be in place throughout the strike and is hopeful a deal will be reached in short order. 

For those on the picket line, it was an emotional day knowing the impact this work stoppage could have on the children.

“A lot of us have cried every night, cried every day, cried in the office, and cried on the picket line,” said a front-line CFS worker.

“We are going to watch families fall through the system and experience extreme gaps in services because we will not be able to connect with them.”

This strike action comes two weeks after budget constraints led the Manitoba Metis Federation to lay off 60 workers from Metis Child and Family Services Authority. At the time, President David Chartrand said the agency was counting on Federal funding as part of Bill C-92, funding that has since stalled.

“That is what the battle is right now, between the province and the federal government of who’s jurisdiction on who’s responsible.  Unfortunately, what is taking place children are not at stake,” said Chartrand.

In the meantime, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine reaffirmed that her government has “put real money on the table,” including $2.4 million for wages for the Metis and Michif agencies. 

“We’ve provided those dollars, and I can’t speak on behalf of the Federal Government, but I would encourage the Federal Government to do their part as well,” said Fontaine. 

Minister Fontaine said the Province can’t interfere with the bargaining process; however, in the eyes of Interim-Leader of the Manitoba Liberals, Cindy Lamoureux, the province must take charge to ensure children in care receive the services they require and deserve.

“They we’re going to take care of these children in care, and we have not seen this happen, we have seen this actually decline now with the cut of so many critical workers,” said Lamoueux.