Contract talks break down between Ontario education workers, gov't

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A new date for bargaining has been set in an attempt to avert a strike by 55,000 Ontario school staff including educational assistants and maintenance workers.

Laura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU), said the sides are scheduled to meet again on Nov. 1, two days before the union will be in a legal strike position.

Walton said parents will be given at least five days warning of any job action but warned a shift to online learning in the event of a full withdrawal of services would not likely work.

“I would remind them the virtual learning was supported by our (IT) workers, she said. “If kids are in school, how do you maintain a healthy, safe space without the folks there that … are supposed to be doing enhanced cleaning. Really, the work that we do is so integral to the work that happens within a school.”

Education Minister Stephen Lecce issued a statement in which he blasted the union for wage demands that he says would see wages increase by about 50% over four years.

“Ontario’s government has a reasonable offer that increases salaries for all workers, while protecting a very generous pension and benefit package, maintaining 131 days of sick pay,” Lecce said. “Parents can rest assured this government will not waver in its resolve to keep all students in class, where they belong.”

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The government has offered a 2% annual increase to CUPE Ontario staff earning under $40,000 a year and 1.25% annually to those over that threshold.

CUPE Ontario education workers make on average $39,000 a year, Walton said.

“We received several stories just over this past long weekend of members that were required to go to food banks in order to put a harvest meal on the table,” she said.

The union says its salary ask — 11.7% annually for four years — would help already struggling workers cope with rising inflation.

The bargaining has so far produced only minor agreement on a minimum amount of bereavement leave, she said.

Premier Doug Ford has told the union “don’t force my hand.”