We have not yet received the "No Board Report", once we do receive it, a communication will be sent notifying workers that the 17 day waiting period has begun.
Moving to Mediation October 14 2022
We have not yet received the “No Board Report”, once we do receive it, a communication will be sent notifying workers that the 17 day waiting period has begun.
We have agreed to enter into mediation with the Government & Council of Trustees Association when we return to the bargaining table on Monday. We have also been able to secure an additional date this session which will give us a three day block.
Government Forces Impasse October ,7 2022
This morning, rather than a written response to our reasonable proposals, the government & school boards asked us to make “dramatic & substantial changes” to our bargaining package.
As workers, you have been clear in what your expectations are of the bargaining committee - you need real gains.
In the absence of a serious proposal from the employer we will have reached an impasse in negotiations.
Still dragging their feet October 6, 2022
Today was day one of our two day block of bargaining dates.
We began the day reminding the government & school boards of the overwhelming support that you as workers have given the bargaining team as well as the clear rejection that you also gave of their proposals.
Again the government and school boards stalled.
We did sign off on the following:
Education Worker Diverse & Inclusive Workforce Committee
Ontario’s 55,000 frontline education workers have been exercising their democratic rights as union members by taking part in their strike vote that opened on Friday, September 23 and will close on Sunday, October 2.
“My coworkers and I have great proposals to settle on the table that are reasonable, necessary, and affordable,” said Laura Walton. “These proposals come from what frontline education workers and families across the province say we need to improve the quality of children’s education and to make education jobs something school boards can actually retain and recruit people to do. Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce have the power and resources to accept our proposals. They could and should do that today.”
Your central bargaining committee spent an extended day Tuesday and all day Wednesday trying to get the Council of Trustees’ Associations (CTA) and Ontario government to agree on something. Even bereavement leave was apparently too much to ask for.
It has become very clear that this government and our school boards need to see and feel the power building with workers to move them to respond to your proposals which, if accepted, would secure services for students & improve wages & working conditions for each of you.
A union representing education workers in Ontario has launched a new campaign arguing that a salary of $39,000 is “not enough” amid contract negotiations with the provincial government.
A union representing education workers in Ontario has launched a new campaign arguing that a salary of $39,000 is “not enough” amid contract negotiations with the provincial government. The campaign centers around a radio advertisement that urges listeners to tell Premier Doug Ford that “$39,000 is not enough for education workers, or anyone.” In the ad, a male voice is heard listing off a variety of frontline education jobs, including educational assistants, secretaries and custodians. The voice says that because these employees are paid about $39,000 on average, “thousands are on the brink of poverty.”
After 8 days of negotiations we have seen very little movement other than the disrespectful offer put forward from Lecce and School Boards. We are requesting support of a Ministry of Labour's Conciliation Officer to support negotiations moving forward.
It’s still within the Stephen Lecce and Doug Ford’s power to direct their people at the table to accept our reasonable, necessary, and affordable Proposals for Student Success and Good Jobs or to at least make a respectful offer. But with the education minister wasting his time fearmongering and getting his math wrong, we’re filing for conciliation in the hope that a third party can help refocus the government and school board bosses on getting a fair collective agreement done.
Attempting to kickstart conversations on equity, violence, and health and safety, we’re disappointed to say that we made little headway. Additionally, although we raised the issues of job security and benefits, the employer maintained their concessions. Our proposal is reasonable, necessary, and ensures sustainability for education workers and the students and families who rely on the services we deliver. The gains you need rely on the high participation of you and your co-workers in the days ahead.
We have prepared a chart that compares the asks you have with the proposal your bosses and government have offered. It is clear that we are far apart on many issues. Bridging this gap will take a high participation of members!
