Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce says he won’t negotiate the details of a counter-offer from the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ education workers unless they cancel plans to strike on Friday. CUPE negotiators presented a counter-offer last night in response to the imposed contract terms in the legislation, but Lecce suggested it may not spur a renewed round of talks.
“The reason why we introduced legislation is because the worst case scenario is that they proceed with the strike even after we offered a better deal. And that seems to be their intention today. And they had a choice before them. They, of course, could have said, we will withdraw the strike vote to permit continued negotiating to try to get to a voluntary settlement.”
The union has not provided details of its new proposal.
The 55-thousand workers including early childhood educators, educational assistants and custodians plan to walk off the job, despite looming legislation that would make it illegal.
“We’ve been very clear, we stand ready to negotiate with any willing partner but they’ve got to take this strike off the table on Friday.”
Meanwhile, a New Democrat MP is calling on the House of Commons to hold an emergency debate about Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s use of the notwithstanding clause.
In a letter to the House Speaker today, Matthew Green says provincial legislation to impose a new contract on education workers undercuts their rights.
Green says the use of the notwithstanding clause to bypass the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of a “disturbing trend” of provinces seeking to trample constitutional freedoms.
He is also expected to table a motion this afternoon calling on MPs to unanimously condemn the move.
The Liberals have been critical of the Ford government this week, too, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau describing the legislation as outright “wrong.”
(The Canadian Press)
