Education workers at three Ottawa school boards could go on strike Friday

Ontario's education minister plans to pre-emptively table back-to-work legislation to avert a looming strike this week by education support workers in Ottawa and across Ontario.

The move comes after the union representing education support workers at three Ottawa school boards warned it could go on strike on Friday if a new contract agreement is not reached.  The Ottawa Catholic School Board says if its 1,200 education workers go on strike, all classes will move to remote learning beginning on Nov. 4.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has given five days' notice of a potential province-wide strike if a deal cannot be reached with the Council of Trustees' Association and the Ontario government. In a statement on Twitter, the union said it would begin a "full withdrawal of service on Nov. 4 if no deal reached."

CUPE represents 55,000 support workers across Ontario, including staff at the Ottawa Catholic School Board, the Conseil des écoles catholiques Centre-Est and Conseil des école publiques de I’Est.

The education minister said Sunday evening that he intends to introduce legislation on Monday to avert a potential strike by support staff.

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board says none of its employees are represented by CUPE.

Mediated talks between the education workers' central bargaining committee and the province will resume on Tuesday.

"We have been urging the Ford government to reach a deal with us for 150 days, but so far they keep saying 'no' even though they could easily afford to say 'yes' given their $2.1 billion surplus," said Laura Walton, president of CUPE's Ontario School Boards Council union.

CUPE workers voted 96.5 per cent earlier this month in favour of a strike mandate if negotiations did not result in a new contract.

CUPE proposed a wage increase of $3.25 per hour in each year of a three-year agreement. The union says the government offered $0.33 to $0.53 an hour increase.

“We’re here to get a negotiated agreement that responds to the needs of students and frontline workers," Walton said in a statement on Sunday. "No one wants to strike, least of all the lowest-paid education workers who can barely pay our bills. Still, we need a significant wage increase and we deserve it. Students and parents deserve guarantees of service levels and improved staffing in schools."

Education Minister Stephen Lecce said Sunday morning that it's unfortunate CUPE decided to issue the five-day strike notice, and promised the government would "act" to keep students in class if education workers walk out of schools.

“For the sake of students and parents, we are not giving up on a deal that protects in-person learning for kids, after two years of disruption that led to learning loss and mental health adversity," Lecce said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

"We have asked CUPE to meet us back at the table today and hope that they budge from their demand for a nearly 50 per cent increase in compensation, which they have so far refused to do. We are at the table with a fair offer that includes a pay raise and maintains the most generous pension and benefit package, but most importantly — it keeps kids in class."

CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at CUPE members in Ottawa school boards.

Ottawa Carleton District School Board

CUPE does not represent any OCDSB employees.

The board says any job action by CUPE members will not affect its schools.

Ottawa Catholic School Board

The Ottawa Catholic School Board says approximately 1,200 ECEs and Extended Day Program supervisors, administrative assistants, and central support staff in Learning Technologies and Finance/Payroll are represented by CUPE.

In a statement on Sunday, the Ottawa Catholic School Board said in the event of a strike, all classes would shift to remote learning.

"If a strike occurs, all OCSB in-person students will move to remote learning on Friday, November 4. We will do this because operating in-person learning without CUPE staff is unsafe. We will do our best to provide continuity of learning for all our students should there be labour disruptions," the board said.

In a letter to parents, the board said if CUPE members go on strike, teachers will reach out to students during their regularly assigned class time on Friday to ensure they have devices to participate in remote learning.

"Staff will spend this day preparing for the move to remote learning and troubleshooting and access or technology issues," the board said.

"On the second day of the strike, students will attend classes remotely and follow the same schedule as when attending in-person learning."

Conseil des écoles catholiques Centre-Est

CUPE represents 105 full-time and 55 part-time janitors and tradespeople at schools with the Ottawa French Catholic school board.

In a statement on Oct. 20, the board said a possible strike would affect the cleaning of the schools.

"Should this occur, the administration will make every effort to keep schools open and ensure that these environments remain safe and conducive to well-being and learning," CECCE said.

Conseil des école publiques de I’Est

CUPE represents 182 maintenance staff and 279 administrative staff at the French Public school board.

"No matter the next steps taken following the negotiations, the CEPEO will ensure that all measures are taken in order to respect our legal obligation to offer a safe and secure environment to students and staff at all times."

With files from The Canadian Press