York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) has confirmed it will close its doors in the event of an education worker strike on Friday.
In a message to families sent today, Nov. 1, the school board chair and director of education wrote to parents about the ongoing labour tensions between the province and education workers represented by CUPE. With CUPE threatening a strike on Nov. 4 despite back-to-work legislation, the board warned parents that schools, student transportation, and school care programs will close if a strike comes to pass.
“Any job action by CUPE members will significantly impact the operations of our schools and our ability to keep schools safely open,” board chair Elizabeth Crowe and director Domenic Scuglia said. “While this situation remains fluid, we recommend that families start making alternative child care arrangements.”
Negotiations between the province and CUPE have been far apart, with the province latest offer being 2.5 per cent for lower-paid workers and 1.5 per cent for all others, while CUPE is proposing a $3.25 per hour raise each year for three years.
The provincial back-to-work legislation would force a four-year agreement with CUPE, and is evoking the notwithstanding clause under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to protect against legal challenges for the constitutionally protected right to strike.
“The board of trustees and the senior leadership team value the democratic right of free collective bargaining and the legal rights enshrined under legislation and pray that the parties return to the table,” the YCDSB letter said.
While York Region District School Board fell short of explicitly saying it would close schools in the event of a strike, it did tell families in an Oct. 31 letter to “begin making alternate arrangements for child care” for the possibility of a Friday strike. It said it is still monitoring the situation and "its potential effect on school operations."
The Catholic board said it would confirm the status of its schools by 6 a.m. Friday via SchoolMessenger, its website and social media. It also said that full-day child care centres will have access to their facilities and can remain open at their own discretion.
Other school boards, including the Toronto District School Board, have also confirmed closures in the event of a strike Friday.
