School staff eyes no-board report
Potential for work to rule, strike by end of month if no deal reached with province
CUPE’s school staff union has requested a no-board report, starting a countdown that could put 55,000 custodians, educational assistants and office staff in a legal strike position by the end of this month.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce blasted the move, saying it was unfair to drop on parents before the Thanksgiving weekend.
However, Ontario School Board Council of Unions president Laura Walton said talks held Thursday and Friday with the province and school boards were unproductive.
“We’ve been at the table for two more days waiting for the government and school boards to come back with a reasonable offer, but they refused,” said Walton.
“They did not make a single move on key issues. As a result, we have been pushed into a position where we need to request a no-board report and up the pressure to reach a negotiated settlement.”
CUPE, the province and school boards have now held 13 bargaining sessions, and more meetings are scheduled for Oct. 17 and 18.
In a statement, Lecce said, “I can’t imagine parents and kids are sitting down this weekend giving thanks to education unions’ relentless pursuit of classroom disruptions.”
The government, he added, “will remain at the negotiating table ready to reach a fair deal that recognizes education workers already have the most generous pension and benefits plan, including 131 paid sick days” through a combination of sick days and short-term leave.
“For their part, CUPE is today preparing to strike and disrupt student learning if they do not get the nearly 50 per cent compensation increase they’re demanding,” he added.
“The premier and I have been clear that nothing matters more than students staying in classrooms without any disruption to their school year.”
Walton’s announcement came a day after Premier Doug Ford asked unions not to hit the picket lines.
“I’m begging you — don’t go on strike. It’s as simple as that,” Ford said in Hamilton on Thursday, while also cautioning the union “don’t force my hand … just please continue negotiating because I’m a strong believer in negotiating. But do not, do not go on strike.”
Education workers recently voted 96.5 per cent in favour of a strike should no deal be reached.
Requesting a no-board report ups the ante at the bargaining table. Even though no job action is currently in the works for CUPE or any other education union, once issued a no-board report begins a 17-day waiting period, after which five days’ notice of any impending job action must be given.
CUPE is seeking raises equal to about 11 percent annually, while the province has offered two per cent a year over four years for those making less than $40,000 and 1.25 per cent for those earning more than that.
The average salary for CUPE members — there are 55,000 of them in many, but not all, boards across the province — is $39,000, but that figure includes part-time workers.
Their salary increases were set at one per cent a year in the last contract following provincial wage-cap legislation.
Since negotiations began, Lecce has said the government will do everything to keep students in classrooms this year and has not ruled out back-to-work legislation.
Walton has said the union won’t budge on its salary demands, saying “workers cannot afford for us to come down” and that they are not interested in the province’s twotier salary offer.
Cathy Abraham, president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, said the development “is unfortunate at this stage in the negotiations, however, we hope and expect that we will continue to negotiate and talk about the issues as we do have additional dates scheduled. We will continue to work towards negotiating a fair deal for everyone — staff, students, communities and school boards.”