Today, workers at Knowles Centre in Winnipeg voted to reject the last contract offer from their employer. At the same time, members were asked, in a separate ballot, if they would be willing to strike and members voted in favour of strike action.
What Now for Knowles Centre Members?
The MGEU has informed the employer of the outcome from the vote. A strike date has not been set. The next step for the MGEU Local 172 bargaining committee is to request that both sides return to the bargaining table.
Knowles Centre members have a commitment to the youth they help on a daily basis. That is their first priority. If strike action is the only option available, then the committee and the MGEU will discuss how that can be carried out without putting youth at the centre at risk.
Local 172 members are encouraged to continue watching the weekly Bargaining Briefs section here on our website for the latest developments.
The Knowles Centre is a non-profit treatment centre for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Their Group Care Treatment Program serves 32 youth (aged 12 to 17). The MGEU represents roughly 80 members in the centre.