Staff at People in Transition, a women's shelter in Alliston today, voted to accept management final offer and return to work.

The eight full time and six part time counselors had been on strike since October 21st.

The new collective agreement provides for a 50 cents per hour wage increase for part time and relief staff and a one percent wage increase in the third year of the agreement.

The employees, members of the Service Employees International Union Local 1.on were steadfast in their resolve to maintain their 12 hour shifts based on a 40 hour work week. Management wanted to reduce full time hours as well as provisions for 18 hour in shelter shifts during inclement weather. These remain as part of the collective agreement.

Shelter management has agreed to utilize the services of conflict resolution facilitator in an attempt to restore positive labour relations climate between employees and shelter management.

"We are happy to see an end to this dispute. However, it is clear the Ontario government needs to do much more to sustain programs for abused women in Ontario. SEIU Local 1.on will continue to pressure the government to adequately fund programs that support abused women and reduce family violence," said Linda Thayer SEIU Local 1.on's union representative.