{"id":33559,"date":"2019-08-22T15:21:48","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T19:21:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cupe.on.ca\/open-letter-to-parents-offers-education-workers-views-on-job-action-like-you-we-want-services-that-help-children-thrive\/"},"modified":"2019-08-28T14:34:04","modified_gmt":"2019-08-28T18:34:04","slug":"open-letter-to-parents-offers-education-workers-views-on-job-action-like-you-we-want-services-that-help-children-thrive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cupe.on.ca\/fr\/open-letter-to-parents-offers-education-workers-views-on-job-action-like-you-we-want-services-that-help-children-thrive\/","title":{"rendered":"Open letter to parents offers education workers\u2019 views on job action: \u201cLike you, we want services that help children thrive\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]TORONTO, ON<\/strong> \u2013 In an open letter to parents and families of Ontario\u2019s schoolchildren, the union that represents 55,000 education workers has laid out the reasons that its members are preparing for potential labour disruption in September and asked for families\u2019 support and understanding.<\/p>\n

The letter cites students\u2019 right to \u201ca high-quality, well-supported, and well-rounded public education\u201d as one of the primary reasons that members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are taking part in strike votes immediately after students return to class.<\/p>\n

The province-wide votes by rank-and-file CUPE members are scheduled to take place between September 3 to 15. A strong \u201cyes\u201d vote would give the union\u2019s bargaining team \u2013 now in conciliation with the province and the Council of Trustees\u2019 Associations (CTA) \u2013 a mandate for job action if contract negotiations break down. Earlier this month, CUPE school board leaders approved a plan for job action.<\/p>\n

The open letter is signed by Laura Walton, president of CUPE\u2019s Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU), the designated bargaining agent for CUPE education workers. She calls the work of her fellow CUPE members \u201cone of the cornerstones of public education\u201d and states frankly that the union is preparing for job action, ranging from work to rule to rotating strikes to full strike.
\nWalton also paints a picture of students returning to schools that are very different from the ones they left last June.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of the Ford government\u2019s cuts to education, it\u2019s likely that your child\u2019s school has lost education workers,\u201d she tells families. \u201cNot enough education assistants to support children with special needs. Not enough custodians to keep schools clean and healthy. Not enough maintenance workers to tackle a backlog of repairs. Not enough school secretaries to monitor who\u2019s in the building. Not enough psychologists, child and youth workers, or social workers to nurture vulnerable kids. Not enough music, language or arts instructors to connect students to the world beyond the classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walton goes on to ask families for their understanding and support: \u201cYes, we want a better deal for our members \u2013 not just because we earn an average $38,000 a year, but because we have children too. And we believe that all families want and support the high-quality services that help children thrive and that CUPE education workers provide.\u201d<\/p>\n

Collective agreements for school board workers expire on August 31.<\/p>\n

– 30 –<\/p>\n

For more information, contact:<\/p>\n

Mary Unan, CUPE Communications 647-390-9839
\nLaura Walton, CUPE-OSBCU President 613-922-6711<\/p>\n

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