Manitoba nurses voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action as hospitals struggle to keep up with the demand from patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With nearly 12,000 votes cast — the highest ever in the history the Manitoba Nurses Union — members voted in favour of the strike, with an average of 98 per cent support across the province's five health regions, the union stated in a news release Thursday. Premier Brian Pallister, when asked on Thursday for his response to the strike vote, said the government will continue to negotiate, but not through the media. The vote to strike comes as hospitals have been overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients needing care, and dozens of Manitoba patients have been flown to other provinces to make room. If a strike happens, nurses will still continue to provide care to Manitoba patients.

Source: CBC News June 10, 2021 19:18 UTC