What Ontario education officials need to know as they issue another strike notice
A union representing about 55,000 education workers in Ontario has issued another strike notice, saying union members will quit their jobs on Monday if no deal is reached with the provincial government.
The Union of Civil Servants of Canada (CUPE), which represents custodians, educational assistants, school administrative staff, librarians and bus drivers, said Wednesday that negotiations had broken down again.
Laura Walton, president of the trade union council for CUPE’s Ontario Board of Education, said CUPE members will go on a “total strike” starting Monday if the two sides cannot reach an agreement.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on.
Why did the union resubmit the five-day strike notice?
CUPE said it had reached a compromise with the government on wages, but claimed the government refused to “invest in services needed by students and expected by parents.”
At a press conference Wednesday, Walton said the government had proposed a flat rate increase of $1 an hour for the year.
According to her, this equates to about $1,633 per year, a 3.58% salary increase for CUPE members.
Walton said it was a “victory,” but added that it “isn’t good enough.”
She said the union is still pushing to ensure additional service guarantees for students and families.
These services include sufficient teaching assistants for students. An early childhood educator in every kindergarten classroom. A sufficient number of librarians, custodians, maintenance workers and merchants. Adequate staffing of secretaries and school lunch room supervisors.
“This wasn’t just about money,” Walton said. “This is what Prime Ministers and Ministers want you to believe — this is about money in our hands. This has always been about services.”
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Ontario education workers file strike notice again, say talks have broken down
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Ontario education workers file strike notice again, say talks have broken down
what did the government say?
In a statement on Wednesday, Education Minister Steven Lecce said the government was “disappointed that CUPE has again submitted a notice to close classrooms just days after negotiations resumed”.
Lecce said the government had submitted “multiple improved proposals” to CUPE members since negotiations resumed, “which would have added hundreds of millions of dollars across the sector, especially for low-income workers.” said.
“CUPE has rejected all of these offers,” he said in a statement. “We are ready to make a fair deal that will invest more in low-income workers and keep children in school.”
What happened to Bill 28?
The Ontario government introduced and passed a return-to-work bill, known as Bill 28, to stop the union’s first strike action. The bill used the controversial yet controversial clause to prevent constitutional challenges.
The law included fines of up to $4,000 per day for employees and up to $500,000 for unions convicted of violating the ban on strikes.
Despite the law, CUPE members quit their jobs for two days, November 4th and November 7th.
To stop labor action and reopen schools, Prime Minister Doug Ford said the government would repeal the law.
Bill 28 was officially repealed by Congress on Monday.
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Everything Ontario Educators Need to Know When Considering a Strike
What does this mean for schools?
Walton said members will quit their jobs on Monday for a “full strike” if the two sides do not reach an agreement.
Earlier this month, members of CUPE and members of the Ontario Civil Service Union quit their jobs. As a result, several school boards across the state have been forced to close their doors to students.
In a tweet Wednesday, the Toronto District School Board said it was “currently finalizing information,” adding that it would “share updates with families as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, the Toronto Catholic District School Board said it was “committed to ensuring that students continue their education despite potential labor disruptions beyond the board’s control.”
The board said it would implement a “contingency plan” if no agreement was reached by Monday.
“These plans will be communicated to staff and families,” the statement read. “We hope that both sides will reach a resolution to prevent TCDSB schools from closing for in-person learning opportunities.”
negotiations continue
Both sides said they would continue negotiations to reach an agreement by Monday.
“We are here and we are committed to completing this transaction,” Walton told reporters. “But we’ve been saying all along, if the wages are commensurate with what workers need and if they provide the services students and families deserve, the deal will be made.”
— Using files from The Canadian Press
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
What Ontario education officials need to know as they issue another strike notice
Source link What Ontario education officials need to know as they issue another strike notice
