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CUPE Issues Five-Day Strike Notice for Education Workers

Wednesday, 16 November 2022 11:27

By Marcie Culbert, Geoff Waterfield

CUPE says it has reached a middle ground with the province in terms of wages of education workers but adds the province is refusing to "invest in the services that students need and parents expect."

It looks like Ontario's education workers may be on strike again come Monday.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has filed a five-day strike notice. The union says it was able to reach a middle ground with the Ford Government in terms of wages, but adds the province is refusing to "invest in the services that students need and parents expect."

During a press conference this morning, CUPE president Laura Walton accused the Ford government of misguided spending priorities.

"Just this week he found money to extend a tax cut, that's going to cost $1.2-billion, so that people can save a few pennies at the pump.  I guess he cares about cars and highways, more than he does about children's education," she says. 

The union has come to terms with an increase of a dollar an hour, or 3.59%, but it's services for children it's not happy with.

Walton insisted it's not just about wages.  "Why are you putting more money into paying out parents in bribes, than you are putting services directly in front of students. Your paper ran a very good article on private tutoring, that said this isn't working."

She also urged people not to believe the government saying the union is greedy.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the province is disappointed to hear about the strike notice, adding the Ford Government has put forward multiple offers.

CUPE represents 55,000 education workers across Ontario including early childhood educators, educational assistants, custodians, and office administration staff.

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