HWDSB schools will stay open even if CUPE members strike on Friday

Hamilton’s public school board says its schools will stay open if the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) strike on Friday, but it is also asking the Ministry of Education to “consider a better deal that is supportive of CUPE education workers.”

This comes after Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the government would table legislation Monday to prevent a strike.

CUPE members at Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board include the 500 caretakers and maintenance staff at the public school board.

If there’s a strike on Friday, none of them would go to work, although an Oct. 30 update from the CUPE Local 4153 president states probationary casuals can choose if they will work or support the union.

“With the announcement of the government stating that it would be imposing and forcing a contract on us late yesterday, we are waiting on direction from OSBCU (Ontario School Board of Council Unions) and CUPE National today on how this will affect our week,” CUPE Local 4153, which represents HWDSB staff, wrote on Facebook Monday morning.

HWDSB chair Dawn Danko in a statement on Sunday the school board is “disappointed” that bargaining hasn’t progressed positively.

Here’s what HWDSB says will happen if a strike occurs:

At least one public school board trustee has also publicly supported the union.

“To be clear: the ONLY thing harming students is [Stephen Lecce’s] refusal to offer a fair contract to workers. Anti-strike legislation does not keep kids in schools — fair wages and more funding does, tweeted trustee Sabreina Dahab.

It’s unclear how a potential strike may impact Hamilton’s Catholic schools.

Spokesperson Marnie Jadon said the school board will put out more information later today.

The province and the union are far apart on wages.

CUPE is looking for annual salary increases of 11.7 per cent and the government in response has offered raises of two per cent a year for workers making less than $40,000 and 1.25 per cent for all others. Laura Walton, the president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, says the government’s offer amounts to an extra $800 a year for the average worker.

“We can’t afford not to fight any longer. We are literally on the brink of poverty,” Walton said.   

Education workers have made several other proposals, including overtime at two times the regular pay rate, 30 minutes of paid prep time per day for educational assistants and ECEs, and an increase in benefits and professional development for all workers.

Other than the proposal on wages, the government’s offer seeks to keep all other areas the same as the previous deal except for a cut to sick leave pay.

The government wants to institute what it’s calling a five-day “waiting period” for short-term disability during which a worker would receive 25 per cent of their normal pay and 90 per cent for the rest of the 120 days.

Some school boards across the province, including the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board may close if a strike occurs.

More to come.