Hundreds of education staff, supporters picket MPP offices

Hundreds of disgruntled education staff protested in front of the constituency offices of Windsor-Essex MPPs on Friday — and union representatives said there’s extra of that to arrangement.

“We’re going to support on going till we secure a merely deal,” said Jacqueline Ouellette, a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees bargaining crew for Ontario educational assistants, early childhood educators, minute one and youth staff, and other school enhance roles.

Even supposing Friday’s teach modified into as soon as first and predominant deliberate as a one-day motion, the Ontario College Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) beneath CUPE has since in point of fact helpful that the strike will continue till further mediate.

“No longer a one-day thing,” Ouellette said. “Right here’s a fight for a nearer educational system. I scrutinize on a day-to-day foundation that our students aren’t getting the enhance they deserve.”

On the intersection of Tecumseh Avenue East and Rivard Avenue, open air the constituency office of Ontario PC Celebration member Andrew Dowie (MPP for Windsor-Tecusmeh), education staff represented by CUPE lined the roadway with placards and signs criticizing the Doug Ford government.

Many passing motorists honked their approval.

Ouellette said CUPE picket lines were web web site up in front of each MPP office in Windsor-Essex — and the rest of the province — from 8 a.m. to 3: 30 p.m.

“Right here’s what it has arrangement to,” Ouellette said. “We’re not correct combating for better wages. We’re combating for extra enhance in our colleges.”

Requested how she feels regarding the strike being in violation of lately passed provincial legislation that imposes a contract on education staff, Ouellette spoke back: “We’re correct standing up for our rights in bargaining.”

“That legislation is in opposition to our Structure rights and freedoms. That notwithstanding clause — that has never been assign in ahead of in a Canadian labour dispute. It’s somewhat disgusting.”

The province-wide strike is the result of a breakdown in negotiations between CUPE and Ontario’s Ministry of Education, with wage increases being the central field.

CUPE represents approximately 55,000 education staff in Ontario. The union has said that it is seeking annual pay raises of 11.7 per cent — a long way higher than the two.5 per cent yearly raises in the federal government-imposed contract (1.5 per cent for those incomes $43,000 or extra a year).

On average, education staff belonging to CUPE accomplish around $39,000 a year.

In step with the union, those staff’ wages hang risen a total of 8.8 per cent in the previous 10 years — whereas Ontario inflation all over the the same time frame climbed 19.5 per cent.

“Thirty-nine thousand bucks will not be sufficient, for education staff or anybody,” CUPE said.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce said Friday morning that the Ford government is taking steps to pause “CUPE’s illegal strike motion.”

Lecce said the ministry has filed a submission with the Ontario Labour Family members Board, and court cases started on Thursday evening.

“Nothing issues extra merely now than getting all students relieve in the college room, and we are in a position to teach each instrument on hand to us to label so,” Lecce warned.

Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie expressed the same thoughts in a statement on Friday morning, claiming that the Ford government has made “merely religion efforts to reach an even deal.”

“But all alongside, CUPE refused to dangle strikes and disruption off the desk,” Dowie said.

Dowie said CUPE left the Ford government “no option” however to pass Bill 28, the Keeping College students in Class Act, which imposes the contract.

“I desire to operate one thing very certain: If CUPE continues with their strike they’ll be breaking the law,” Dowie said.

But Lisa Gretzky, MPP for Windsor West and Ontario NDP member, in point of fact helpful voters to not let the Ford government “fool” them in terms of caring about students.

“In the occasion that they cared, they’d pay our young folk’s educators their shapely wages,” Gretzky said.

On Wednesday, Gretzky and greater than a dozen other Ontario NDP participants were ejected from the provincial legislature at Queen’s Park attributable to their vocal disagreement with Bill 28.

Gretzky declared that she stands in cohesion with CUPE and the education staff. “I will continue to make teach of my teach as loudly as I will for the rights of staff in the course of this province.”

Meanwhile, the Windsor-Essex position’s school boards continue to song the difficulty and assess its influence on students.

All colleges beneath the Windsor Essex Catholic District College Board were closed for in-person studying on Friday, with academics conducting virtual classrooms.

On Friday afternoon, the WECDSB announced that its colleges will dwell closed on Monday — and till further mediate.

In step with the WECDSB, the choice is per other school boards in Ontario who will be without educational assistants, early childhood educators, and other professionals because of this of the strike motion.

“The decision modified into as soon as not made flippantly, however out of an abundance of command for health and security, and our principled belief in being equitable for all our students,” the separate school board said.

All colleges beneath the Better Essex County District College Board were open as normal on Friday, and the general public school board has not indicated subsequent week will be a host of.

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