Premier Doug Ford says government willing to rescind legislation, return to bargaining if CUPE calls off strike
Premier Doug Ford says he is willing to repeal his controversial bill overriding Charter rights and return to the bargaining table if CUPE calls off the strike by school support staff.
In an olive branch meant to turn down the heat as workers remain off the job for a second day - shutting down schools in many boards, and amid talk of a general strike one day next week - Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce made the announcement Monday morning as hundreds of education workers protested out front of Queen's Park.
Ford said the government as a gesture of good faith" is willing to repeal Bill 28 but only if CUPE agrees to show a similar gesture of good faith by stopping their strike and letting our kids back into their classrooms."
Students, he added, don't deserve to be caught in the middle of these negotiations ... for the sake of the students, CUPE please accept this offer. Take strike action off the table and let our kids back in class."
Ford said his government didn't make the decision to introduce back-to-work legislation and impose contracts - using the Charter's notwithstanding clause - lightly.
Our goal has been clear - to keep students in class," Ford also said. We put forward a fair and reasonable offer" that includes the largest compensation (increase) to education workers in over a decade" as well as protect pensions and benefits.
Both the government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees had been awaiting a ruling from the province's labour board on the strike by support staff, as workers continued to hold rallies outside Progressive Conservative MPP offices across the province.
Ford and Lecce spoke to reporters at 9 a.m. Monday, an hour before the Canadian Union of Public Employees and other union leaders were set to announce a massive rally next weekend and the possibility of a day-long general strike Nov. 14.
The government has asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board to rule that the strike by 55,000 school support staff - custodians, early childhood educators, educational assistants, library technicians and others - is illegal. A hearing began last Thursday evening and continued throughout the weekend, wrapping up Sunday afternoon.
Last Thursday, it passed Bill 28, the Keeping Students in Class Act, which pre-emptively banned CUPE's strike and imposed a four-year contract on school staff.
The government has said the legislation was needed to keep kids in class after two and a half years of disruption because of the pandemic.
But the move has galvanized the labour movement, including unions that threw their support behind Ford during the last election.
The two sides were far apart when talks broke down - the union seeking about 6 per cent in annual wage increases, the government offering up to 2.5 per cent a year over four years.
CUPE members face individual fines of $4,000 daily under the legislation every day they are on strike, and the union $500,000. That means a $220 million bill per day.
CUPE has received some donations from other unions, but has said it will fight any fines.
Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy
Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie
Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @robferguson1