The lowest paid education workers in Ontario have given strike notice
source : Twitter
The Ontario government introduced legislation on Monday to impose a contract on CUPE’s education workers, including librarians, custodians, and early childhood educators. The legislation will prevent the education workers in the province from going on strike.
Ford govt announced draconian, heavy-handed legislation today that imposes a 4yr contract on @osbcucscso‘s 55,000+ ed workers, most of whom are women & make ~$39,000#OSSTF stands w/ CUPE’s Members. Ford govt must respect & uphold workers’ right to fair bargaining #OntEd #OnPoli pic.twitter.com/ijmHcnGgaZ
— OSSTF Communications (@osstf) October 31, 2022
Protest Against The Legislation
CUPE members are taking a stand against the legislation. A union representing approximately 55,000 Ontario education workers said Monday that its members would vow off the job on Friday, November 4, 2022.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) gave a five days strike notice on Sunday. CUPE’s decision to go ahead puts pressure on the Ontario government to change its terms.
BREAKING: CUPE says it’s 55,000 members will go on strike regardless of the government’s legislation in an open act of defiance. #onpoli #onted
— Colin D’Mello | Global News (@ColinDMello) October 31, 2022
Laura Walton, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employee’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, said whether workers continue to protest after Friday “will be left up to what happens.”
“I am so proud because our members have said, ‘Enough is enough,”’ Walton said.
CUPE has said it will explore every avenue to fight the bill. Still, the government said it intends to use the notwithstanding clause to keep the eventual law in force despite any constitutional challenges. The clause allows the legislature to override portions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for a five-year term.
Education workers are the backbone of schools. ECEs, EAs, custodians, clerical staff, library staff and more, ensure safe and excellent learning environments for kids.
— CUPE Ontario (@CUPEOntario) October 31, 2022
They deserve better. Our communities deserve better.
Send a message: https://t.co/V8d3ncPBFq#OnPoli #OntEd pic.twitter.com/etyOqILSNN
Education Minister Stephen Lecce said, ““We want to make sure that there’s no issues, litigation or otherwise, that could essentially get these kids back out of class because of strikes locally or provincially”.
“This proposal, this legislation, provides absolute stability for kids to the extent we can control it and ensures they remain in a classroom, that nothing, nothing at all now or in the future could prevent a child’s right to be in a classroom learning”, he added.
The government had been offering raises of two percent yearly for workers making less than $40,000 and 1.25 percent for all others.
Lecce said the new, four-year deal would give 2.5 percent annual raises to workers making less than $43,000 and 1.5 percent raises for all others.
Protest is Ongoing on social media
After introducing the legislation, the Canadian people are protesting against it. With the hashtag “Onted,” people are raising their voices on Twitter and supporting the CUPE’s members.
@maritstiles wrote on Twitter: ” Ford & his cabinet showed up to hear their minister expound for an hour, then all take off the moment the NDP Education Critic starts speaking, sharing direct # stories from education assistants, custodians etc. so deeply disrespectful”.
The lowest paid education workers in #Ontario have given strike notice. They live in poverty. Much like nurses and personal support workers in healthcare, they’re undervalued, overworked. They are disproportionately women & BIPOC. Respect their work. Support them. #onpoli #onted
— Nili Kaplan-Myrth MD PhD (@nilikm) October 31, 2022
