Education support workers across Ontario say they will be on the picket lines on Friday, November 4, 2022, despite the Provincial Government introducing legislation on Monday to keep students in class.
Meanwhile, both the Lambton-Kent District School Board and St. Clair Catholic District School Boards announced that schools would be closed on Friday if the anticipated job action takes place.
Ontario introduces the ‘Keeping Students in Class Act’
The Ontario government on Monday introduced the ‘Keeping Students in Class Act’ that would, if passed, ensure students remain in the classroom where they belong by establishing a fair and fiscally-responsible four-year collective agreement with CUPE education workers across the province.
“Students are finally back in class catching up, following two years of pandemic disruptions,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, in a media release.
“We are disappointed that CUPE is refusing to compromise on their demand for a nearly 50 per cent increase in compensation, representing a price tag close to $19-billion if extended across the sector. CUPE has now made the decision to strike, putting their own self interest ahead of Ontario’s nearly two million children, who deserve to stay in class learning. We are delivering on our promise to parents that our government will do whatever it takes to keep students in class, so they can catch up and get back to the basics of learning.”
Kids have been through so much.
That is why we will not waver from our conviction that every student deserves to be in class. pic.twitter.com/sF0igz7qNy
— Stephen Lecce (@Sflecce) October 31, 2022
Provincial officials say in an attempt to reach an agreement and protect in-class learning for nearly two million students, the government extended an updated proposal to CUPE that enhanced Ontario’s offer.
However, CUPE is proceeding with strike action, even after a good-faith attempt by the government to deliver a deal that is fair for workers and good for students, Provincial officials say.
The Keeping Students in Class Act would, if passed, establish a four-year collective agreement for Ontario’s 55,000 education workers that ensures stability for students and includes:
– A salary increase of 2.5 per cent (increased from an initial offer of 2 per cent) for employees with the top end of their salary/wage grids below $43,000 annually (increased from $40,000) and 1.5 per cent (increased from 1.25 per cent) for employees with the top end of their salary/wage grids above that amount for each year of the contract.
– An increase in benefits contributions resulting in a $6,120 annual employer contribution per employee by August 31, 2026.
– Funding through the Support for Students Fund, estimated to support up to 875 teachers and between 1,600 and 1,830 education workers.
– Modification to sick leave and short-term disability leave plan provisions that protect stability of student learning, while maintaining generous pension, benefits and sick leave programs.
– $4.5-million in funding for apprenticeship training.
– An extension of modified job security provisions.
Provincial officials added to protect against legal challenges, which may create destabilizing uncertainty for students and families, this Act would provide that it shall operate notwithstanding sections 2, 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and despite the Human Rights Code.
Provincial officials added Ontario’s education workers are among the best paid compared to other provinces, with the average salary for a CUPE employee at $26.69 per hour.
Ontario has hired 29,000 additional education workers since 2002-03 including 4,600 since 2017-18.
CUPE Ontario ramps up pressure
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario officials say the provincial government is using bully tactics against education workers in Ontario.
“(Minister Stephen) Lecce wants to convince kids and parents and education workers that he has, in his words, no other choice but to introduce this legislation but that’s simply not true,” said Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario, in a media release.
“He has a choice to offer an adequate salary increase that compensates for over a decade of wage cuts. He has a choice to invest in education to ensure adequate staffing levels from the classrooms to the libraries. And he has a choice to continue negotiations without having the threat of ramming through a contract full of concessions and wage cuts over the heads of frontline workers.”
CUPE officials say the “final offer” of the government to education workers consists of a wage increase of 2.5% for employees earning less than $25.95 per hour, and 1.5% for those earning more; inadequate protections against job cuts; no paid prep time for education workers who work directly with students; a cut to the sick leave/short-term disability plan; and more.
Hancock added: “We have a clear message here today. To the Ford government: negotiate, don’t legislate. We all know the best deals that ensure long-term stability and labour peace are the ones we reach at the bargaining table. And to our members: you are not alone. You have the full force of Canada’s largest union and our 715,000 members nationwide standing with you. We have your back.”
“Lecce calls this offer a generous one,” Hahn said on Monday.
“A half percent wage increase to an already-insulting offer isn’t generous. An additional 200 bucks in the pockets of workers earning 39K isn’t generous. It wouldn’t even be generous to accept our proposal – it would be necessary, reasonable, and affordable. It’s simply what’s needed in our schools.”
Hahn added: “We have three more days of bargaining left despite the tabling of this legislation and imposing this totally inadequate contract. Lecce and Ford might think they can just rely on this bully tactic of a legislation. But we’ve been in mass meetings the last week with education workers – frontline workers who’ve resoundingly expressed their commitment to ensuring good wages, work conditions, and educational environments. On Friday, regardless of what this government does, we will be engaging in province-wide political protest where no CUPE education worker will be on the job until we get a real deal. Our members will not have their rights legislated away. Now’s the time to stand up for ourselves and public education and that’s just what we’re going to do.”
Meanwhile, CUPE National President Mark Hancock arrived in Toronto to lend his support to CUPE’s 55,000 education workers in Ontario.
“This is an appalling display of contempt for workers’ rights, for the collective bargaining process, and for the workers who look after our kids and keep our schools running,” said Hancock, in a press release.
“Going full nuclear and threatening the lowest-paid education workers in the province with fines and the Notwithstanding Clause is just disgraceful, even for this premier and this education minister.”
CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick said there’s still time to get a deal done.
“Instead of bullying the lowest-paid education workers in the province, Doug Ford should be negotiating a fair offer so they no longer have to work second jobs and rely on food banks to make ends meet,” Rennick said, in a press release.
“If Doug Ford thinks his threats and intimidation are going to stop us from fighting for a better deal for our members, he should think again.”
Local schools to be closed on Friday, if strike proceeds
The local school boards announced on Monday that schools would close on Friday, if a a strike takes place.
Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) and St. Clair Catholic District School Board officials say they have been notified that members of CUPE Local 1238 will join their colleagues across the province in a legal strike involving a full withdrawal of services in Ontario schools, effective Friday, November 4, 2022 unless there is progress at the central bargaining table with the Ministry of Education and the trustees’ association.
Both school boards said on Monday, the Ontario government introduced legislation that, if passed, would prevent a strike.
“Student safety is the top priority for the LKDSB,” public school board officials say.
“If the strike proceeds, CUPE staff will not report to work. In our schools and across our system, CUPE represents custodians, early childhood educators, educational assistants, secretaries, library and computer technicians and other school-based and central staff members. A full strike would mean none of these important supports for schools would be in place and the LKDSB will not be able to safely operate our schools.”
Public School board officials added: “If an agreement is not reached this week or if the Ontario government legislation does not pass and the strike proceeds, all LKDSB schools will be closed to students on Friday, November 4, 2022. Please continue to check the LKDSB website throughout the week and including Friday morning for updates regarding whether schools will be closed to students beginning Friday, November 4, 2022. We appreciate that there may be significant impacts on your family. Families are strongly encouraged to explore alternate child care arrangements in the event that a strike occurs.
St. Clair Catholic District School Board officials say CUPE represents custodians, early childhood educators, educational assistants, library and computer technicians, and secretaries.
“In the event of a strike, none of these important supports for schools would be in place and the Board will not be able to safely operate our schools,” Catholic school board officials say.
“St. Clair Catholic continues to closely monitor the situation and develop contingency plans as necessary. Events surrounding the dispute between CUPE and the government are evolving quickly. There will be further communications as new information becomes available.”
Both school boards said they are hopeful an agreement can be reached and the full strike action will be avoided.
Visit www.lkdsb.net and https://newsdesk.st-clair.net/ for updated information.
