Education Minister Steven Lecce said the government’s interim deal offered to Ontario’s education aid workers who threaten to strike would offer members of the minimum wage a 4.2 per cent annual salary increase. Press conference.
The Civil Servants Union of Canada (CUPE) represents librarians, early childhood educators, janitor and other school support staff. In lieu of the threatened strike on Nov. 21, schools are open and education workers will begin voting on the accord on Thursday.
According to CUPE, the interim agreement reached on Nov. 20 provided employees with a $1 an hour pay increase every year for four years, giving them a 3.59% annual salary increase.
“We respect the ratification process, but for minimum wage workers, we spend an average of $39,000. [in salary], this deal represents an annual increase of 4.2%,” Lecce said. He said CUPE had opted for “openness” of the negotiations.
“To help minimum wage workers, this is a huge increase from where we started and what we are going to do, but all workers are benefiting from this deal. , frankly, every family and taxpayer benefits from getting stability for their children,” Lecce said.
provisional contract
Laura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario Board of Education Union Council (OSBCU), said: Confirmed After 170 days of negotiations, the union reached a tentative agreement with the Ontario government.
In addition to wage increases, unions Ask Provide $100 million in funding to ensure increased staff levels of educational assistants, librarians, caretakers, and secretaries. We were also considering having an early childhood educator in every kindergarten classroom, not just in classes with 16 or more students.
according to For Walton, the government will not provide “new money for new services.”
“Basically, what this government has told us is they won’t move anymore. We’ll let our members vote,” she said. Said.
“As a mother, I don’t like this deal. As a worker, I don’t like this deal…I think it falls short,” Walton added.
“There is no certainty about any of our schools because this government has not been able to provide the services and funds to maintain them. We are experiencing record numbers of childhood illnesses because we don’t have enough caregivers, and all I can say is that workers are trying to speak up,” Walton said.
“And this [deal] If you are refused to take to the streets next Sunday, you must give an additional 5 days’ notice before the next strike can begin. ”
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Marnie Cathcart is a reporter based in Edmonton.