CUPE strike: Here’s everything you need to know

From why Ontario education workers are striking to which GTA schools are open Friday, this is what you need to know.

Thestar.com
Nov. 4, 2022
Alessia Passafiume

Ontario’s school support workers are poised to walk off the job Friday after talks collapsed between the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Ontario government. Here’s everything you need to know.

Who are the education workers?

CUPE education workers include educational assistants, custodians, school secretaries, designated early childhood educators, professionals, informational technology workers, maintenance workers, library staff and others.

According to the union, more than 70 per cent of the 55,000 workers are women and more than half work at least one additional job to make ends meet.

Why was the strike called?

The union called for the job action after the government introduced back-to-work legislation -- the Keeping Students in Class Act -- that included the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause to override the Charter of Rights -- and despite the hefty fines that could come with such a strike.

Education workers represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) are also being encouraged by their union to walk off the job in solidarity on Friday. Other unions in the province have also publicly supported CUPE.

What do the educational support workers want?

CUPE has said its workers, who make on average $39,000 a year, are generally the lowest paid in schools. On Tuesday, CUPE reduced its initial wage demand from about 11 per cent to six per cent. The government’s latest offer was a 2.5 per cent increase each year over four years for those earning less than $43,000 a year, and 1.5 per cent for those earning more.

Why did the Ford government invoke the notwithstanding clause?

Ontario used the notwithstanding clause to override sections 2, 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. After a law -- in this case, the Keeping Students in Class Act -- is passed using the clause, it can’t be challenged for another five years.

The bill imposes contracts on the 55,000 education workers in the province and bans them from going on strike. CUPE says it plans to fight the legislation and go on strike anyway.

Premier Doug Ford previously invoked the clause for the first time in Ontario’s history in June 2021 to bypass a judge’s ruling that struck down his government’s limits on unions’ electoral spending. The most recent attempt would be the first time since 1986 the clause was used to pass labour legislation.

CUPE national president Mark Hancock called the latest use of the notwithstanding clause “unbelievable.” The decision also sparked criticism from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

What boards are planning to close schools Friday?

Many boards with staff represented by the union had previously said the CUPE strike would close their schools -- including the Peel District School Board and the York Region District School Board, which account for the largest contingent of members.

The Toronto District School Board has said in-person learning will be cancelled as long as CUPE workers are off the job because it can’t ensure schools will remain safe and clean for students.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board is also closing schools for in-person learning, as are Durham’s public and Catholic boards, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, the York Catholic District School Board and the Halton Catholic District School Board. Several other boards across the province have said they’ll close schools on Friday because they can’t operate safely without the CUPE workers.

Halton District School Board and Hamilton-Wentworth School Board will remain open, while Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board will be closed.

The MonAvenir Catholic School Board will close, and Conseil Scolaire Viamonde had not yet provided information on its plans to open or close schools in the event of a strike.

Will daycares be open?

Most daycares within schools will remain open, but with reduced or changed hours.

How long could the strike go on for?

On Thursday, CUPE said they will strike “indefinitely,” even as it could cost members and the union itself more than $220 million a day in fines.

When was the last time this happened?

CUPE threatened strike action in 2019, but a last-minute deal was reached after the provincial government agreed to spend $20 million a year to ensure hundreds of support staff who were laid off returned to Ontario schools -- and another $58 million annually to help create more support for special education students.

Where are the education workers picketing?

CUPE has a picket line finder tool on its website, cupe.on.ca/dontbeabully.

Protests are also planned at Stephen Lecce’s constituency office in King City and at Queen’s Park. A counterprotest of parents in support of the province is also planned for Queen’s Park.