Education support workers in York Region’s public school board are ready for work-to-rule job action Monday, Sept. 30 if a new central deal is not reached during this weekend’s scheduled bargaining talks.
The union that represents 55,000 education support workers in Ontario’s local school boards today announced it has issued the required five days’ notice that puts them in a legal strike position come Monday.
“I am cautiously hopeful that as of early this morning, all parties have agreed to return to the bargaining table over the weekend on Saturday and Sunday,” CUPE Local 1734 president Todd Canning told NewmarketToday. “Failing no resolve to the major concessions being tabled to us, all 3,200 members in York Region district schools and administration buildings are ready for work-to-rule starting on Monday.”
“We thank the students, parents, our employee-partners in our work locations, along with our community partners for their continued support as we advocate for supports in the classrooms for our students,” Canning said. “The cuts that have been enacted by the Ford government hurt our students and takes away from their educational success. We care for our students and we will continue to advocate for them, especially our most vulnerable students in many programs and classrooms in our schools.”
Canning said there is a disconnect between what the Ontario government shares with the media and what is happening in the schools.
“I encourage the government to take a close look inside the schools and speak to all educators so that they have the most current and accurate information, and understanding of what the reality of education needs are,” he said.
CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions president Laura Walton said in a statement today that the focus of job action is over provincial government cuts to education services and supports for students, which it says has “decimated” the system.
"This year we've seen … school libraries closed over students' lunch breaks because there aren't enough library workers, school cleaning cut to the point that custodians are told they can only vacuum kindergarten classrooms once a week, eight or nine students with special needs now supported by a single education assistant, and communication with parents affected because some schools have lost their school secretaries,” Walton said.
"If it takes job action to restore these services, then so be it. This is something worth fighting for,” she said.
The council is charged with negotiating a new collective agreement for about 55,000 education support workers in the public, Catholic, English, and French school system on such things as wages and benefits, sick leave, and job security.
"(Education) Minister (Stephen) Lecce says he wants stability and predictability, but we have yet to hear anything that says that he's ready to secure the education services that students and families rely on," said Walton. "That is what CUPE education workers are seeking from this process – not simply for themselves, but for the students they serve."
Locally, Canning said his members are “passionate about the skills and supports they bring to education”.
“We desire to have a fair contract that reflects the work that we do,” he said. “Fairness and respect for our members are not too much to ask for.”
“Cuts from the Ford government are hurting our students and, in turn, hurt our members,” he said. “This is very clear across the province. The government needs to listen to the students, parents, and educators of this province. Our children’s future depends on the needed supports and the cuts need to be rolled back.”
If labour talks break down, a work-to-rule campaign will begin at 63 school boards across Ontario on Sept. 30.
In a Sept. 24, 2019 statement, Lecce said the Ontario government “remains focused on keeping kids in the classroom and delivering a deal that gives students and parents predictability and certainty”.
“This will not change. I urge CUPE and the employers to come back to the table and direct their efforts toward reaching a deal as quickly possible,” Lecce said. “Our government remains available at any time to restart talks with CUPE and keep students in school. Kids and parents deserve no less."
CUPE and the Ontario School Board Council of Unions, along with the Council of Trustees' Associations are scheduled to meet this weekend, on Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29, in an attempt to reach a deal that will ward off job action.
