Members of CUPE Ontario working in healthcare, municipalities, universities, and in social services have always known the value of education workers.
The 55,000 members of CUPE’s Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU) – custodians, maintenance and library workers, secretaries, early childhood educators, educational assistants, IT professionals – working in publicly-funded schools across Ontario are the backbone of Ontario’s public education system.
We know that many of them work unpaid hours every week just to make sure our students have the supports and services they need. We know that they put everything they have to ensure that kids have the best possible education in the safest schools possible. And we know that they went into bargaining with the clear goal of ensuring they had the best working conditions, sufficient wages, and investments into our education system for everyone, for themselves and the communities that rely on their services.
We demand better because our kids, as well as these workers, deserve it. We demand better so we can deliver the best.
But the Ford Conservatives aren’t on the same page, despite all the talk.
Education workers are demanding a significant wage increase to keep pace with raging inflation. Meanwhile, the Ford Conservatives are offering two tier wage rate that amount to a wage cut. Education workers are demanding staff increases. Meanwhile, the Ford Conservatives are refusing language securing services, ensuring job losses. And education workers are demanding investments. Meanwhile, the Ford Conservatives are sitting on a $2.1-billion surplus while cutting per student funding to our schools.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The Ford Conservatives could be honest about the value of education workers. They could bargain with respect. They could do the right thing for education workers, for parents, and for students.
Instead, they’ve forced education workers to go to a strike vote, which resulted in an overwhelming 96% approval. And, on Friday, they forced a request for a no board, a critical step on the road to potential job action.
Today, more than ever, CUPE Ontario wants to send a message to education workers in the OSBCU. We say clearly and firmly that you are not on this road alone.
The rest of CUPE Ontario’s membership has faced many of the same challenges. We have dealt with governments that refuse to acknowledge our value, forcing us to deliver services without the supports we need and Ontarians deserve.
We couldn’t be prouder and more inspired by the steps you’ve taken on this road to strengthen our public education system, and to win respect for the important work you all do. We are with you – no matter what it takes – to win!
Onward
