Tonight, members of Family Visions (Local 303) in Brandon voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.
Negotiations on behalf of these 120 members who care for mental and/or physically challenged adults in a community setting, began over a year ago. After making no headway at the table after several months, the employer applied for the assistance of a third-party conciliator.
By the spring of 2015, however, the employer presented a final offer, which members voted to reject on April 23, 2015.
When the employer did not come forward with a better wage offer, a strike vote was scheduled.
The strong mandate achieved tonight will send a strong message to the employer when negotiations are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, July 8, 2015.