<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“You don’t just get up and walk away from the table when you’re in the middle of negotiating and I feel we can strike a deal but they need to come back. They’re the only ones that have the ability to have the kids back in the classroom,” said Ford in a media conference today, November 7, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n
“I’m willing to put a little water in my wine but they need to do the same thing…” he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ford said his government, with the intent to keep students in class, has “put forward a fair and reasonable offer. An offer that provides the largest increase in compensation for education workers in over a decade and protects the most generous benefits and pension plan in the entire country, along with 131 paid sick days. All we ask for was that they remove their threat to strike so kids could stay in class.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said CUPE was demanding a nearly 50 per cent increase in compensation including benefits. “When CUPE didn’t get what they were demanding, they gave notice they were going on strike. The times we find ourselves in after pandemic disruptions is an unprecedented situation that requires unprecedented solutions.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said when the threat of a strike loomed causing further disruption, “our government took action to stop the strike.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ford said his government was left with no choice but to pass Bill 28, Keeping Student in Class Act, 2022 (which made CUPE’s strike illegal). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told reporters his government is willing to rescind Bill 28 but “only if CUPE agrees to show a similar gesture of good faith by stopping their strike and letting our kids back into their classrooms. I urge CUPE to continue to talk with us at the bargaining table. We’re willing to make a fair deal, one that offers more help for lower-income workers. We want a deal that’s fair for students. Fair for workers. Fair for parents. And fair for taxpayers and we know we can get there,” he said, adding that the Province has a responsibility to the entire province when it comes to spending tax dollars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“A deal with CUPE has massive impacts on broader public service salaries as well as the government’s ability to invest in services like health care, transit, education, and hospital infrastructure alongside other vital public services.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said his government has directed boards to keep as many schools open as possible and offer online learning as well. You can watch the video below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n