The union representing Ontario education workers has set dates for strike votes, but says they wouldn’t be in a position to walk off the job until October at the earliest.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 55,000 workers including maintenance staff, custodians, librarians, administrative staff and early childhood educators, will open voting from September 23 to October 2 on whether to set a strike mandate.
Spokesperson Laura Walton says holding a strike vote doesn’t necessarily mean that workers will withdraw services, but it’s part of the process to deliver a message and show the government they are prepared to fight for workers and public education.
Walton says, “We should not need to threaten strike to have folks recognize how important our work is and if our work is important, and we all know that it is, than it is incumbent on this government to pay us property, to fund it properly, and to ensure that the services are secure.”
She says CUPE and the government have bargaining dates this Friday as well as three more dates in September, and there is still plenty of time for the government to come with a better offer.
