The provincial government said it was seeking an ‘unlawful strike declaration’ against CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, which represents the workers
An Ontario labour board hearing to determine the legality of a walkout by education support workers has continued late into Saturday, as lawyers for the province argue that the strike action was unlawful because a new contract came into effect.
The proceedings before Brian O’Byrne, chair of Ontario Labour Relations Board, or OLRB, started Thursday night and continued into the weekend. OSBCU members, who include education assistants, custodians and other support staff, set up picket lines outside politicians’ offices and the provincial legislature at Queen’s Park on Friday. On the south lawn of the legislature, protesters waved placards and shouted “no more cuts” and “we won’t back down.” Some marched around the building, while others danced to music.
The bill imposes a four-year contract on the union. Ontario used the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to prevent the union from bringing a court challenge against the loss of its right to strike. In a memo to school boards, the government said it wants them to make “every effort” to keep schools open, and that if there are health and safety concerns, the boards must make a “speedy transition” to remote learning.
The collective agreement imposed on OSBCU by the government’s legislation includes 2.5-per-cent annual wage hikes for workers earning less than $43,000, and 1.5-per-cent hikes for those earning more. Both raises are far below what the union is demanding.
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