Service Workers Strike on George Street In Peterborough

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After the Public Service Agency of Canada union failed to reach an agreement with the federal government prior to the deadline, roughly 100 workers went on a nationwide strike in Peterborough at Water Street on Wednesday morning.

Over 155,000 public service workers have gone on strike nationwide that includes more than 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency employees.

Treasury board workers are demanding a 13.5 per cent wage increase over three years, tax agency workers want a 22.5 per cent increase while wanting work-from-home guarantees. The federal government’s offer of 9.5 per cent was turned down during Tuesday’s negotiations.

“We're here to support our fellow workers across Canada,” said Susan MacMillan of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. “We're 150,000 strong to send a message. We're sending a message to support our unions and trying to negotiate a fair contract for our employees.”

MacMillan says a variety of affected workers have united in support of the strike such as the Union of Taxation, the Department of National Defense and Service Canada. Employees as far as Bancroft and Trenton have come to Peterborough to join the George Street protest.

“We’re being strongly represented in Peterborough,” she added.

The strike concluded at roughly 3 p.m. but will go for as long as it takes until their demands are met according to MacMillan.

The workers are circling George Street between Dalhousie and Sherbrooke Street as they strike. Several vehicles slowed down and honked in support of the workers.

“I am hoping that the support is coming from across Canada,” said MacMillian. “Right now, that's the support that we need.”

The bottom line for the workers is that they get what they feel is deserved during their negotiations with the federal government.

“We just want a fair contract,” said MacMillian.

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David Tuan Bui


CUPE Announces Potential Strike On Monday If Deal Not Struck With Ontario Government

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The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is set to strike again on Monday after rejecting the Ford government’s negotiation offers and citing that the proposed contract would “further harm” Ontario schools.

CUPE workers originally had a strike on Nov. 4 and continued on Nov. 6. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

Laura Walton, president of the CUPE school board’s bargaining unit, said the union has given its notice of a province-wide strike for Monday.

“From the beginning, we’ve been focused on improved jobs for education workers and improved services for students. For us, there is no one without the other,” said Walton. “It’s incredibly disappointing that the Ford government categorically refused to put money on the table to give students the type of learning environment they need.”

The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) has Tweeted that they intend to strike Monday if a deal is not reached.

The School Boards Collective Bargaining Act requires that school board workers give five days’ notice before striking.

On Nov. 7, the Premiere Doug Ford said they would repeal Bill 28 which stripped the ability to strike and deem it illegal if the CUPE would cease all striking action. CUPE agreed to withdraw and go back to the bargaining table to renegotiate.

Schools had re-opened for students after two days from the CUPE strikes that consists of roughly 55,000 workers.

CUPE’s Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU) central bargaining committee has been negotiating for 167 days. During this time, they have made progress on the wage front, having reached a reported “middle ground” with the Ford government and the Council of Trustees’ Associations (CTA) on wage negotiations.

CUPE workers had been advocating for a six per cent wage increase, down from their original ask of 11.7 per cent over four years. They are also seeking more full-time staff in schools.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce expressed “disappointment” that negotiations with CUPE have failed, noting that this strike notice was issued only a few days after talks restarted.

“We are disappointed that only a few short days after talks restarted, CUPE has filed notice to once again shut down classrooms. Since resuming talks, we’ve put forward multiple improved offers that would have added hundreds of millions of dollars across the sector, especially for lower-income workers,” he said in a Tweet. “CUPE has rejected all of these offers. We are at the table ready to land a fair deal that invests more in lower-income workers and keeps kids in class.”

Lecce says the government will remain at the bargaining table in hopes of reaching an agreement in time to avert what Walton said will be a “full strike.”

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PTBOCANADA


Doug Ford Has 'Improved Offer' For CUPE Workers

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the provincial government is ready to stop fighting with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and has an ‘improved offer’ for education workers at the negotiation table at a press conference in Queen’s Park on Tuesday morning.

Screenshot.

Ford declined to speak about what the improved offer was immediately after stating that his government has an offer.

This comes a day after promising to rescind Bill 28 which took away their rights to strike and made it illegal. Ford stated on Monday that he was willing to revoke the bill if CUPE agreed to cease all strike/protest action.

The union agreed to withdraw and is expected to continue negotiations Tuesday morning.

Schools have re-opened for students following a two-day walkout from CUPE workers of roughly 55,000 workers.

CUPE has reportedly been asking for roughly 11.7 per cent wage increase over four years however the latest offer has been around six per cent. Education minister Stephen Leece and MPP Dave Smith have said workers have originally asked for 50 per cent which was deemed ‘unreasonable.’

CUPE can still legally strike but must provide five days’ notice if they wish to do so.

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"I'm advocating on behalf of two million students." MPP Dave Smith Urges CUPE To Renegotiate and Stop Striking

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MPP Dave Smith explains the province's steps and stance toward the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ actions which are fighting for a pay raise. He says the ball is in CUPE's court to act but wants to have students back in schools as soon as possible.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has agreed to repeal Bill 28 if the CUPE workers agreed to stop striking. According to Ford’s tweet Monday morning, CUPE has agreed to withdraw.

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CUPE Education Workers Protest During First Day of Strike

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Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) education workers protest outside MPP Dave Smith’s office on Water Street as their strike for wage increases takes off on Friday.

CUPE workers are striking for a 6 per cent wage increase, down from their original ask of 11.7 per cent. “Ford and Lecce have got to go!” chants were made from the crowds as education workers picketed and receive honks of encouragement from passing vehicles.

Similar protests were held outside the offices of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott in Lindsay, and Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini in Port Hope.

The Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board (PVNC) and Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) have both opted to closing schools during the strike, saying in a statement that “without CUPE workers on-site, (they) simply cannot ensure safe conditions for all students and staff.”

Students have been transitioned to at-home, asynchronous learning for the day on Friday as CUPE strikes.

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