SUDBURY, Ont. – CUPE Ontario sends support and solidarity to the members of the Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation (OSSTF) who began a strike in the Rainbow District School Board today.
“We send a clear message of solidarity on behalf of all CUPE Ontario members to the teachers who are beginning strike action today in the Sudbury region,” said Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario. “CUPE members who work in schools across the province, including in Sudbury, will do all we can do to support the effort of these workers and their union to achieve a fair collective agreement.”
Teachers at the Rainbow District School Board, represented by OSSTF, have joined teachers in Durham, who began strike action on Monday, April 20th.
“Now, when the parties have been legislated into a completely new bargaining process, is not the time to re-write and gut collective agreements, particularly after the loss of trust and stripping of rights in the last round,” said Terri Preston, chair of the School Boards co-ordinating and central bargaining committee of CUPE Ontario.
“No matter which education workers we’re talking about, it’s the same for us all. Our working conditions are students’ learning conditions. The government cannot expect education workers to stand by while they are treated without the respect they deserve for the significant contributions they make every day,” said Preston.
In the Sudbury region, as in all other communities across Ontario, CUPE represents thousands of members who work in municipalities, universities, school boards, social services and healthcare. In Ontario’s school board sector alone, CUPE represents 55,000 early childhood educators, educational assistants, custodians, school office staff, library and computer technicians, trades people and more.
“We will work to build support for these picket lines in Sudbury from all CUPE members,” said Candace Rennick, secretary-treasurer of CUPE Ontario. “The fight of OSSTF education workers is our fight, and with support and solidarity, when these workers win, we all do – including the thousands of children and families who rely on the skill and passion of these dedicated teachers.”
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For more information, please contact:
Andrea Addario, CUPE Communications, 416-738-4329
Craig Saunders, CUPE Communications, 416-576-7316
