Ontario education workers, including librarians, vote overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate

 

Ontario education workers vote in favour of strike mandate

Ontario education workers, including librarians, custodians, and administration staff, voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate on Monday morning.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says more than 80 per cent of its 55,000 worker members voted, with 96.5 per cent of them supporting the demands made by the bargaining team to the provincial government.

The union has asked for annual wage increases of $3.25 per hour — or 11.7 per cent – to help address the increase in inflation, as well as minimum staffing requirements, a designated Early Childhood Educator for every kindergarten class, and $100 million to create between 1,500 and 1,700 new jobs.

Laura Walton, the president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, says the team can now go back to the table with a clear indication of the level of support members have for CUPE’s proposals.

The union still contends it does not want a strike. CUPE has bargaining dates scheduled with the government on Thursday, Friday, and Oct. 17 and 18.