Cathy Dobson Local school boards are warning parents that schools may close on Friday if education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) go on strike.
Cathy Dobson
Local school boards are warning parents that schools may close on Friday if education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) go on strike.
The Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) sent notices home this week saying a strike by CUPE members would mean schools would not be staffed by custodians, early childhood educators, educational assistants, secretaries, library and computer technicians and other school-based and central staff members.
Without them, the LKDSB cannot safely operate its schools, the notice reads.
“We appreciate that there may be significant impact on your family,” it continues. “Families are strongly encouraged to explore alternate child care arrangements in the event that a strike occurs.”
The St. Clair Catholic District School Board sent out a similar message to parents saying the situation is evolving quickly, and the board will “develop contingency plans as necessary” unless there’s progress at the central bargaining table with the Ministry of Education and the trustees’ association.
Meanwhile, the Ford government is attempting to speed up passage of the Keeping Students in Class Act today in the Ontario legislature. If passed, CUPE’s education workers will be prevented from striking.
The union says it will fight the bill, but the government says it intends to use the notwithstanding clause to keep the eventual law in force despite any constitutional challenges.
The unusual move by the government has many labour and parent groups throwing their support behind CUPE, says Michele LaLonge Davey, president of CUPE Local 1238, which represents about 1,000 permanent and occasional employees with the Lambton Kent District School Board.
A rally organized by the Ontario Federation of Labour was held Tuesday in front of MPP Bob Bailey’s offices, while the federation held similar emergency rallies throughout the province demanding that the government gets its “hands off workers’ rights.”
“I believe the Ontario government has taken it all to a new level,” LaLonge Davey said. “It is way over the top. Why can’t we just continue to bargain?”
CUPE set aside today, Wednesday and Thursday at the bargaining table to find a solution before Friday and avert a strike, she said. “We are getting support from all over, including from Prime Minister Trudeau, because this goes well beyond bargaining in good faith. It’s a rights issue and it’s not just stepping on our rights, it’s a big, big trampling.
“If the government can do it to us, who’s next? I feel like we are standing up for all workers’ rights.”
Ontario’s education workers represented by CUPE have been without a contract since Aug. 31 and have been trying to improve their working conditions on numerous fronts at the bargaining table. Wages, service security, benefits and staffing levels are among the key issues. But the most critical one is hiring and retention, said Lalonge Davey.
“Locally, our boards haven’t reduced CUPE members but it has happened across the province,” she said.
Wages for education workers in Ontario are also a sticking point.
The last three increases have been one per cent annually and the union is looking for increases closer to 11% a year.
“Our lowest level members are clerical positions and elementary supervision support who make $19.79 an hour,” said Lalonge Davey. “We’ve got members who have to use the food bank or get gas money from the union so they can drive to work. I am just dumbfounded that the government is treating families and students like this…we are really good workers and the kids need us.”
At the high end of the wage spectrum are trades people like the heating and cooling repair technicians who earn $34 per hour and are well below industry standards, Lalonge Davey said.
A union representative with the St. Clair education workers could not be immediately reached.
The situation is changing quickly and the St. Clair Catholic board is urging parents to check https://newsdesk.st-clair.net/ regularly for updates. The LKDSB is also posting updates on its website at www.lkdsb.net.
