What happens now that Ontario education workers have given strike notice?
Ontario education support workers have yet again given notice of a strike.
The strike notice comes just days after the province rescinded legislation that imposed a contract on workers and prevented them from legally taking job action.
According to the union’s bargaining team, the decision to provide a five-day strike notice came after “many late hour attempts to achieve a freely negotiated settlement.”
Education support workers—including librarians, custodians and early childhood educators—took part in a two-day strike earlier this month after negotiations broke down.
According to the union, workers were given an ultimatum and told that unless they promised not to go on strike, the government would enact a bill that would prevent them from doing so. Both parties returned to the bargaining table after a compromise—the union would stop striking and the government would rescind their legislation.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
But what happens now that another strike notice has been issued?
Unless a deal is reached in the next five days, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will walk off the job as early as Nov. 21.
Will schools close?
It is too early to tell, but during the last strike the majority of school boards in the Greater Toronto Area closed to in-person learning. Some schools offered virtual options while others remained closed for the duration of the strike.
The Toronto District School Board said Wednesday it is finalizing information and will share updates with families as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Catholic Distric School Board has confirmed it would close all of its schools in the event of a strike.
Why are workers striking?
Laura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, told reporters Monday the two bargaining parties were still “far apart.”
The primary point of contention between CUPE and the government is salary. The union originally asked for an 11.7 per cent annual salary increase for their members due to years of wage freezes and rising inflation.
The province was offering a 2.5 per cent annual raise for workers who make under $43,000, and a 1.5 per cent yearly wage increase for those who make more. This is the deal that was imposed on workers as part of Bill 28—the “Keeping Students in Class Act”—that also prevented workers from striking.
Once the bill was rescinded, Premier Doug Ford said the government made an “improved offer” to the union.
Both parties have been rather tight lipped about what this offer entailed until Wednesday, when Walton told reporters the government put a $1 an hour raise on the table for each year of their collective agreement.
Walton said this amounts to about $1,633 more a year or an increase of 3.6 per cent.
“Let me be clear, that's a win for workers. But it's not enough,” she said. “It's not nearly what we deserve for the care and effort and incredible passion we put into our jobs. And it's certainly not enough to make up for a decade of having the government's hands in our pockets through legislative interference in our collective bargaining province.”
Education Minister Stephen Lecce said their offer was “fair and increases wages for all workers with an emphasis on the lowest paid workers.”
Can the union legally strike?
Yes. Now that Bill 28 has been rescinded, it is no longer illegal for education support workers to strike.
The union has technically been in a legal position to strike since mid-October; however they do need to provide five days notice prior to taking any new job action.
Will the government use the notwithstanding clause again?
Bill 28 used the notwithstanding clause to override sections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to prevent education workers from striking.
The use of the notwithstanding clause—also known as Section 33 of the Charter—was widely condemned by labour unions, members of the opposition, and the Prime Minister of Canada.
“It is a very, very serious thing to suspend people’s fundamental rights and freedoms,” Justin Trudeau said in early November.
“The proactive use of the notwithstanding clause is actually an attack on people’s fundamental rights and, in this case, is an attack on one of the most basic rights available—that of collective bargaining.”
The government can use the notwithstanding clause again; however it is unclear if they will. Lecce did not clarify this when speaking with reporters on Wednesday, saying only that representatives will remain at the table to continue bargaining.
“I just think it's entirely unnecessary and frankly, it's unacceptable,” Lecce said of the strike notice.
Ford has previously said that striking was "more dangerous" than using the notwithstanding clause to override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
5 dead and at least 35 hurt in Iowa tornado: officials
Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through Iowa Tuesday, with one carving a path of destruction through the town of Greenfield, officials said.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.