NEWS RELEASE
NORTH SIMCOE MUSKOKA & DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL
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The North Simcoe Muskoka and District Labour Council (NSMDLC) has sent a letter of support for education workers in Ontario to the Ford government, condemning Premier Ford, Minister Lecce, and all other PC caucus members for violating CUPE's rights to fairly negotiate a collective agreement.
The NSMDLC continues to show unwavering support for education workers in the Province of Ontario, represented primarily by CUPE and OPSEU, and to express our frustration with the government’s refusal to negotiate a deal that recognizes the improvements that are necessary to the wages and working conditions of these vital workers.
We condemn in the strongest way the legislation of a contract, in any capacity, on workers who have the right to collectively bargain.
The NSMDLC proudly represents members of CUPE 997 and OPSEU 330, who represent educational assistants, secretaries, custodians, and support staff at both the Simcoe County District School Board and the Trillium Lakelands District School Board.
We recognize that these workers have seen their jobs change drastically over the past 15 years. It is no secret that the incidences of violence that these workers are exposed to have increased dramatically. With the Ford Government’s relentless cuts to our public education system, these workers have faced an increased workload as more and more students presenting with complex needs are integrated into traditional classrooms. Their wages simply have not kept pace.
Our local school boards aren't able to fill the absences of education workers, as recruiting and retaining these workers is nearly impossible, given how undesirable the position has become.
Low wages, with limited hours and incredible risk to a worker’s physical and mental health do not inspire people to take on the crucial work that our education workers do.
We are calling on the Government of Ontario to negotiate real wage increases that will serve to compensate these workers fairly for the work that they do to serve our youngest citizens and to negotiate working conditions that demonstrate the respect that Ontarians have for their professionalism and service. We call on all workers to show their support for education workers by contacting their MPP and demanding that this government negotiate a settlement rather than legislate one.
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