Woodstock Comes Out in Droves to Support CUPE

Friday, 4 November 2022 at 13:32

By Brad Kraemer

Heart FM reporter Brad Kraemer was downtown today speaking to some of the picketers.

WOODSTOCK - Hundreds of the 55 thousand education workers that walked off the job today are supporting the Canadian Union of Public Employees in Woodstock.

Heart FM reporter Brad Kraemer was downtown today speaking to some of the picketers.

Ross Luscher is a custodian from Aylmer as well as a CUPE 422 membership officer in London. He was directing traffic on the corner of Perry Street and Dundas Street and took a moment to comment on the provincial government's actions.

"I think it's a total disgrace against our constitutional rights and our human rights and I was there when the constitution was signed up in Ottawa. They are making a horrible mistake, it's going to cost them millions of dollars and they are not going to get elected the next time around. We have people from all over Ontario, every union in Ontario and we have support everywhere. They are out today here in Woodstock, London, every place in Ontario including Queen's Park and we are showing Doug Ford and Minister Lecce that they are wrong doing this."

In response to the strike action, the Progressive Conservative government enacted a law imposing a contract on the 55-thousand workers and bans their right to strike. The Ford government used the notwithstanding clause to prevent any legal challenges to its bill. The law sets out steep fines for violating a prohibition on strikes: up to four-thousand dollars per employee, per day.

Another CUPE supporter who chose to be anonymous was stationed in front of Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman's office. He also felt education workers have received "unfair treatment" from the Ford government.

"It's horrible. Not just for us, but for anybody coming forward. We've had our bargaining rights, human rights and other rights stripped away from us by a government in a democratic society. Now we're being treated almost like a dictatorship."

He also shared how amazing it was to see the all the support CUPE has received in the Friendly City.

"It's excellent. We've got huge support from not only our own unions but from other labour groups, teachers and other people in town. It's very well received."

People were stopping by the MPP's office to drop off donations and enjoy some complimentary Tim Hortons.

CUPE says the strike will likely last longer than one day.