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

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.

CUPE, the union representing support workers in our Board, has provided notice that it intends to commence a strike (full withdrawal of services) on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 if it does not reach a central agreement with the provincial government before then.

— PVNCCDSB (@PVNCCDSB) November 16, 2022

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.”

We offered $335 million more over four years for CUPE workers alone.

So, why are we here? pic.twitter.com/QZFxQ8Iu9r

— Stephen Lecce (@Sflecce) November 16, 2022

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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Driver Shortages Causing Bus Disruptions In Local Schools, Close To 40 Bus Routes Cancelled

According to a joint press release between PVNC, KPR and STSCO, Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO) says families should have back up transportation plans as close to 40 bus routes have been cancelled for Monday, September 14th servicing local public and Catholic schools.

STSCO has been informed that, due to an area bus driver shortage, First Student bus company will have to cancel 38 school bus routes for both morning and afternoon runs on Monday, September 14th. The cancelled routes are listed on STSCO.ca by school.

Some local bus companies continue to have difficulty hiring and retaining drivers during the pandemic, an issue that many transportation consortia across Ontario are facing. As a result, STSCO warns that bus route cancellations and delays may be a daily occurrence in the weeks ahead.

Any disruptions will be posted on a daily basis on the STSCO website to give parents and guardians as much advance notice as possible.

Families in both Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board are asked to monitor STSCO.ca in the mornings and evenings, sign-up for automatic notifications and follow @stsco_ca on Twitter for information on cancellations and delays.

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Large Crowd Of Students & Parents Gathered At KPR Office Last Night

A crowd of approximately 80 people gathered in advance of last night's regular meeting of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board trustees. Nerves would seem to remain raw from the recent decision to close PCVS. Students and parents greeted arriving trustees with signs and a message of concern. The largest group were clearly from the Save PCVS camp, while a few folks were present showing support for TASSS. During the meeting, passionate presenters from the community continued to speak out on this hot topic.

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Mayor Bennett Asks City Council To Review KPR Decision To Close PCVS

In a media release that went out this afternoon after KPR's decision to approve the closure of PCVS, Mayor Daryl Bennett say he will seek City Council's approval to consider three actions:

• First, a review by City staff of the land use regulations affecting the PCVS site with a view to limiting its use to educational and community-based uses, and a review of its role in the implementation of the Central Area Master Plan.

• Second, an exploration of the merits of City support of an appeal to the Ontario Minister of Education of the Board decision by the Peterborough Collegiate Foundation, including the adequacy of the decision-making process.

• Third, consultation with MPP Jeff Leal to determine the provincial interest in the closure and its potential impact on the liveability of the downtown.

"The community has expressed substantial concern over the Board decision and the role of the City in protecting City-wide interests," says Bennett. "I would have recommended these actions had any of the four schools been proposed for closure."

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Here's Videos Of PCVS Student Reaction Immediately After KPR Decision Last Night

[MyKawartha]

[chextvDOTcom]

And reaction today from students at PCVS...

[chextvDOTcom]

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Here Is Just One Of The Letters Sent To KPR Board Members Asking Them Not To Close PCVS

There are many, many letters being sent to KPR officials pleading with them to not close PCVS. Here is one of them from local downtown business owners:

To the Board of Trustees of the Kawartha Pine Ridge school board,

I own a business in downtown Peterborough, if PCVS closes the businesses of downtown Peterborough will suffer greatly.

As you know, teenagers have tremendous influence on household purchases.  The fact that they are downtown influences their families to come downtown and shop.  The students bring a great lively atmosphere to the downtown, it will be devasting to the businesses of the downtown if this is lost.

On another note, I have 2 children attending Queen Mary public school.  I chose to live in the area that I do because of the walkabilty of elementary school and high school.  I expected my children to attend PCVS.  Personally I am a huge supporter of the public school board but  I will not send my children on a bus to school.  If PCVS is closed I will send my children to St. Petes (where they can walk).  The public school board will lose many children to the catholic school board if the decision is to close PCVS.  There are numerous like minded families in my neighborhood.  We will not send our children to Adam Scott or Kenner which are the recommended schools for our district.

 The larger picture must be considered.  PCVS is a fantastic school with an exceptional record of sucesses.  Do not close it.  I am certain the downtown as a whole will suffer tremendously if it is closed, my business included.  The DBIA has sent you a letter and every business owner I have spoken with is against PCVS closing, knowing that their business may not survive this closure.  It is tough enough to operate a business downtown.  We as business owners strongly believe that if PCVS is closed, our doors may have to close too.

Please consider these points when making your decision tonight.
Sincerely,
Amanda and Shane Palmer

Green Eyewear Optical
374 George St.

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