Ontario education workers hit the picket lines Friday morning on the first day of an illegal strike, and the Education Minister says he is taking them to the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
Striking education workers, members of CUPE at Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith’s office, November 4, 2022. (Photo: Quinte News)
Thursday, the Progressive Conservative government enacted a law imposing a contract on the 55,000 employees represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees and banning them from striking.
CUPE members are picketing at politicians’ offices including that of Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith.
Buses brought members to his office on Highway 62 in Rossmore earlier this morning.
Custodians left to right: Brett Cherwinka, Matt Goodman, members of CUPE education workers on the picket line at Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith’s office, November 4, 2022. (Photo: Quinte News)
Matt Goodman, a local custodian, says he’s not worried about the fines he could face for going on strike.
“Not really, we’ve been told by Joanne White, our president that they will pay for fines if we do get fined. So none of us are really that worried. There’s a large, large group out here. I can’t see by-law enforcement or police trying to do that much with this larger group.”
Education Minister Stephen Lecce has suggested the government will pursue the fines attached to the law, while the union has said it would foot the bill for penalties levied against workers, which could cost as much as $220 million per day.
Left: Tracey Alie, Early Childhood Educator
Right: Kate Cleaver, Educational Assistant
(Photo: Quinte News)
Liz James, President of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1479 representing non-teaching education workers with the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board says the average salary of $39,000 a year is nowhere near enough.
“I was on a call yesterday with a lady who was saying that she hasn’t ever been able to take her kids to a grocery store. They go to the food bank every Friday. All she wants is to be able to go and buy a bag of Sun Chips, or let them choose something that is not a necessity, that is more of a want.”
Speaking with Tim Durkin on 800 CJBQ’s The Lorne Brooker Show Friday morning, Belleville’s Laura Walton, President of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions says the offer they presented this week was significantly less than their initial demand but the province refused to look at it.
“So this was never about what we were asking for. This is always about the fact that, you know, they want to underfund. They want to break the union because then they can try to privatize education.”
The Ford government used the notwithstanding clause to prevent any legal challenges to its bill.
The union says it plans an indefinite strike anyway even with the threat of fines and has urged parents to make alternate arrangements into next week.
A major demonstration is also taking place at the provincial Legislature.
