Durham District School Board (DDSB) and Kawartha Pine Ridge District school Board (KPRDSB), advised parents and guardians yesterday that they should be prepared for closure of schools on Friday, and perhaps afterwards.
“We recognize how disruptive it is when schools are closed. However, due to health and safety reasons, our schools will not be able to operate on Friday without CUPE employees at work. More information will be shared with families in the coming days as a lot can continue to change as the parties are still meeting to negotiate, said an statement from Norah Marsh, Director of Education.
Over the past few days there have been media reports about ongoing provincial labour negotiations between the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Government of Ontario and the potential of a labour disruption. On Sunday, CUPE announced that should an agreement not be reached by Friday, November 4, CUPE education workers across the province would go on strike that day.
Earlier yesterday, the Ontario government introduced legislation to prevent CUPE workers from going on strike and stipulating the terms of their contracts. This legislation still needs to be passed by the Ontario Legislature before becoming law. CUPE has since indicated that their members will strike on Friday regardless of what the government does unless a negotiated agreement is reached at the collective bargaining table.
DDSB said CUPE represents a large group of employees, and any labour disruption would have a significant impact on school operations.
Examples of CUPE staff roles include:
- School custodians and maintenance workers;
- School secretaries;
- IT support staff;
- Student transportation staff;
- Educational Assistants and Outdoor Education Instructors and
- Continuing Education workers.
“While the DDSB is not directly involved in the provincial negotiations, it is our sincere hope that an agreement can be reached before Friday. We appreciate that families may have questions or concerns about the potential for labour disruptions at their child(ren)’s school(s) and how they may affect our students and other programming. We will share further information with you as it becomes available. We encourage you to follow @DDSBSchools on Twitter and check our website for updates,” Marsh added.
KPRDSB monitoring situation
Meanwhile, Kawartha Pine Ridge District school Board (KPRDSB) said this is a rapidly evolving situation that it is following closely.
“We appreciate that this is a difficult situation, and we will continue to share further information with staff and families throughout the week once confirmed,” it said in a statement.
It pointed out that CUPE will be in a legal strike position on Thursday, November 3, 2022. Strike actions can include a partial or full withdrawal of service. CUPE represents a large number of education workers in KPR schools. CUPE staff are vital to students’ success, their safety and the effective functioning and operation of KPR schools and buildings each day.
“We are, of course, very concerned about this possibility and know that our staff and families share that concern. To assist staff and families in their planning, we are sharing today that if a provincial agreement is not reached next week, and if there is a full withdrawal of service by CUPE employees, our schools would be closed to students,” said the statement.
“We appreciate that the potential of closing our schools is difficult news, and not a decision we make lightly, but the reality is that without CUPE education workers on-site, we could not ensure safe conditions for all our students,” it added.
“School boards must be given five days’ notice of any possible strike action. If we receive notice from CUPE about pending strike action in the coming days, we will share further detailed information with all families at that time. We recognize the valuable role of CUPE staff in supporting students, staff and schools. We continue to follow the provincial negotiations closely and, like you, remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached soon that will avert disruption to our students and families,” the KPR statement added.
CUPE asks union to join fight against Lecce and Ford
CUPE President JP Hornick and First Vice-President/Treasurer Laurie Nancekivell have urged Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) members to join its fight against Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce and Premier Doug Ford.
“Education Minister Stephen Lecce has decided to legislate a contract and no-strike legislation on CUPE education workers instead of bargaining with them. This attack on their bargaining rights is an attack on all union members, including OPSEU/SEFPO education workers who are also in bargaining right now,” said the call sent via email yesterday evening.
“CUPE is standing up to them: “On Friday, regardless of what this government does, we will be engaging in a province-wide political protest where no CUPE education worker will be on the job until we get a real deal.”
It urged OPSEU/SEFPO to “take action with us!”
The email pointed out that both CUPE and OPSEU/SEFPO education workers are the lowest-paid staff in Ontario schools. They earn an average of $39,000 per year, and the schools are so understaffed that it has created a dangerous and stressful environment for both students and staff.
Last week, OPSEU/SEFPO released a short video featuring education workers who have experienced daily violence in schools – their workplaces – because of severe understaffing caused by low wages, unsafe working conditions, and underfunding by the provincial government.
“It is important to fight back against a government who would rather divert $365 million from desperately needed classroom funding to make small, one-time payments to parents for private tutors. That money should be invested in schools and programs – and the education workers who support students at school,” said CUPE.