York Region school boards are warning parents to make contingency plans as the possibility of a strike from education workers looms.
The province tabled legislation today to force a contract with many of Ontario's school employees. But after giving a five-day strike notice Oct. 30, the Canadian Union of Public Employees has responded that it would not be swayed by the legislation and will go on strike if an agreement is not reached by Nov. 4.
In a letter to families Oct. 31, York Region District School Board said parents should prepare.
“While we monitor this situation and its potential effect on school operations, we encourage families whose children attend in-person learning to begin making alternate arrangements for child care,” the board said.
CUPE has been advocating for wage increases of $3.25 per hour per year over three years, while it says the provincial government is offering increases of 33 cents to 53 cents. Other issues include hiring more education assistants, an early childhood educator in every classroom, plus more custodians and library workers. It has argued the bigger pay jump is necessary after years of wage freezes and legislated wage caps.
York Catholic District School Board did not have a bargaining update as of 4 p.m. Monday, but did warn of the possibility of a strike in its last update to parents Oct. 20.
“CUPE members will be in a legal strike position on Nov. 4, 2022. This could entail labour sanctions including work-to-rule, rotating strikes, full strikes. As such, the board is engaged in contingency planning and will provide updates to parents, legal guardians and stakeholders as provincial negotiations continue."
None of the local CUPE education worker branches in York Region responded to a request for comment before publication time.
Newmarket parent and education advocate Shameela Shakeel said she has heard from parents worried about a strike, especially those with young children who cannot be left alone at home.
She said she supports the education workers and that they need to be paid a decent wage.
“It’s such a mess,” she said. “It is frustrating for those of who us have been in the school system for a long time, we see the value, we know the value of these education workers. They’re the frontline staff. They really help everything to keep going in school."
The province has said the new legislation will offer a 2.5 per cent wage increase for workers making below $43,000 annually and 1.5 per cent for everyone else, along with increases in benefits contributions. With the possibility that the bill would run afoul of the constitutionally protected right to strike, the government has also said it will evoke the notwithstanding clause under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, legally protecting the legislation.
“Students are finally back in class catching up, following two years of pandemic disruptions,” Minister of Education Stephen Lecce said in a news release. “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."
CUPE has indicated the two sides had bargaining meetings set up through this week after it made its strike notice.
Shakeel said the legislation stands to “escalate things” and set a precedent for all other unions. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, also in negotiations, said it has walked away from the bargaining table over the back-to-work legislation introduced.
“We live in a democracy, and if they want to tout they live in a democracy when they get voted in, they should use those same principles,” Shakeel said.
