The government of Ontario has requested that any strike activities be stopped and that the province’s labour relations board declare that a walkout by educators and union leaders’ actions are both illegal.
In response to the government adopting legislation that forbade strikes and mandated a four-year contract, thousands of education workers went on strike on Friday. The province’s submissions to the Ontario Labour Relations Board were made at the same time.
In Ontario, numerous institutions have stopped offering in-person instruction due to the job action.
The strike will go on indefinitely, according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the 55,000 education employees who left their jobs.
On Thursday, Stephen Lecce, the minister of education, filed a complaint with the labour board against CUPE. A hearing has been scheduled for Friday afternoon.
In a statement released on Friday, Lecce said, “Getting all kids back in the classroom is currently more important than anything, and we will use every tool at our disposal to do so.”
According to documents submitted to the board, the minister claims that the union “called or approved or threatened to call or authorise an unlawful strike.”
The Ontario School Board Council of Unions’ president, Laura Walton, is accused by the province of “counselling, procuring, supporting, authorising, threatening, or encouraging an unlawful strike.”
They make the same accusations against Fred Hahn, CUPE Ontario’s president.
According to CUPE, the application is being resisted.
According to the union’s national president, Mark Hancock, “CUPE’s legal counsel will be there to argue for our members’ right to protest the Ford government’s unlawful bill, which strips workers of their fundamental rights.”
A new government regulation has set fines for breaking the no-strike policy at up to $4,000 per employee per day, which could total $220 million for all 55,000 employees, and up to $500,000 per day for the union.
CUPE has stated that it will contest the fines but will also make payment if necessary.
The notwithstanding clause was incorporated by the Progressive Conservative government into its legislation because it would be used to defend against constitutional challenges.
On Friday, CUPE education employees and their allies gathered at a number of demonstrations around the province, including one in front of the legislature in Toronto.
Ontario wants the strike by educators to be ruled illegal.
About Author
