In a letter sent to parents last night, the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) has indicated that if education workers go on strike this Friday, schools across Muskoka will close and move to online learning.
Labour disputes continue between the Province of Ontario and education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
“The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has given notice that their members may be in strike action (full withdrawal of services) across the province of Ontario if their agreement is not reached by Friday, November 4. Leading up to this day, there will be three days of mediation between the Ontario government and CUPE. Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) is not directly involved in the provincial negotiations and we are hopeful that these days of mediation lead to an agreement and thus do not result in a strike,” stated a release issued last night, October 31, by TLDSB director of education, Wes Hahn.
TLDSB members affected by the negotiations include secretaries, clerks, technicians, custodial and maintenance staff, and educational assistants. “These members are critical in keeping our school buildings and sites safe for students, not only for the cleanliness of our buildings, but for the support students receive each day. We respect and value our CUPE staff and are hopeful an agreement is met before the end of the week,” added Hahn. “For the safety of our students, should there be a strike on Friday, November 4, our school buildings and Board sites will be closed to students, but will remain open to administrators, designated early childhood educators, teachers, and non-striking staff. Without our CUPE staff, we cannot safely operate TLDSB schools for students. It is important to note that other school boards across the province may have different or fewer employee groups as part of CUPE, and therefore, would be able to keep their schools open.”
He stated in the event of a full strike on Friday, all student programming will move online with teachers providing asynchronous learning through their online classroom (SeeSaw, Google Classroom, or Brightspace) and students will have the opportunity to connect with their teacher to receive support. He also recommended that parents/guardians make alternative childcare arrangements for their child(ren) beginning Friday, November 4, should it be required.
Earlier in the day, the government of Ontario introduced legislation, which if passed, would impose a new contract and prohibit strike action but CUPE has vowed to walk off the job if that happens.
The greatest divide between what CUPE is demanding for its education workers and what the Province is offering seems to involve salary raises.
The Ontario government had been offering to increase the salary of workers making less than $40,000 by two per cent annually and 1.25 per cent for all others. Then, in a revised four year-deal it upped its game to an annual increase of 2.5 per cent for workers making less than $43,000 and an increase of 1.5 per cent for all others. But CUPE has maintained its workers make an average of $39,000 a year and are among the lowest paid in the school system, and has been asking for annual salary increases of 11.7 per cent.
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Outrageous! On all fronts. What happened to fair collective bargaining? We have a mini dictatorship in Ontario. Beyond belief how our democratic systems are being undermined while our educators are being vilified.
“TLDSB members affected by the negotiations include secretaries, clerks, technicians, custodial and maintenance staff, and educational assistants.” In more detail, the list includes computer technicians and database administrators (attendance, marks, payroll, human resources — all the records) so when the director says: “all student programming will move online” that nicely assumes technicians will make that happen (either board-employed or non-board contractors). And, though not mentioned at all, all of the board data maintenance will continue to happen — or not. It’s actually a team effort and this harda$$ tactic by the Ford/Lecce gang will not help morale in schools. And it pits parents against all the people who make schools go.
There is a lot that goes on to make an “education system” function, much more than teachers in the classroom. Perhaps the Lecce/Ford ploy to first pay off parents ahead of this event (timing, anyone?), taking funds that may have gone to actual in-school improvement (or maintenance) then use the overkill and bad precedent setting (continuing?) step of invoking the Notwithstanding Clause to stomp on legal rights, will pay off politically. Take note, though, that as big and seemingly important as Politics is, it is not (yet, but getting there) the social and community glue that holds us together. There’s a bigger picture than “keep students in school”; wait for it. What will the Ford gang do next? Obviously the next public service union who seeks negotiation may as well just forget it. It’s a big step here.
Good luck to all involved. I get that parents need kids to be in school, and I get that school and board office workers need to be fairly compensated. Hey, that’s what negotiations are for …