CUPE calls on Ford to refrain from public comments during negotiations

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says it will limit its comments to the media while its bargaining committee remains in mediation with the Ontario government to negotiate a collective agreement.

“We will be limiting our comments to the media while in mediation to better direct our efforts to reaching a freely negotiated agreement,” a CUPE spokesperson said in a statement late Wednesday.

The union representing 55,000 education workers resumed negotiations on Tuesday after Premier Doug Ford promised to repeal legislation that imposed a contract on CUPE if they agreed to end their walkout.

Ford revealed his government has tabled an “improved offer” earlier this week, but reports suggest it contained a two-tier wage increase — the union has remained steadfast that it wants a flat rate increase for all workers.

A government source said the latest offer presented a 3.5 per cent annual increase for the lowest paid workers and a closer to two per cent increase for higher paid workers. CUPE says they did not received that specific offer but would not recommend it to their members if they did.

The union says its only focus is negotiating a collective agreement that meets the needs of students, parents and workers, which it has said make an average of $39,000 dollars annually.

Ford sounded unwilling to move away from the two-tiered structure of his government’s offer when asked about the union indicating they would not accept it.

“We’re going to focus on the low paid workers, that’s our goal,” he said. “I’ll be fair, hopefully (the union) will be fair as well.”

Union, opposition call on Ford to repeal Bill 28 right away

The education workers, including education assistants, librarians and custodians, returned to work on Tuesday, a day after the union called off their job action in response to the province’s offer to repeal its legislation.

The province controversially included the notwithstanding clause in its legislation that banned strikes, saying it intended to use the clause to guard against constitutional challenges. The province had filed an unlawful strike application with the Ontario Labour Board during the workers’ job action.

On Wednesday night, CUPE said the unlawful strike application has been withdrawn by the government, meaning members won’t face fines for the two days of walkouts.

The province says legislation to repeal Bill 28 will be tabled on Nov. 14. The union and the NDP opposition have called on Ford to recall the legislature to repeal the legislation right away.

“We’re keeping our word, we’re going to do it,” Ford said. “Maybe they should put a little water in their wine, like I did.”

CUPE responded shortly after the premier’s comments saying they need the bill repealed.

“Don’t take advantage of our good nature. We need Bill 28 repealed. Why the delay?” reads a tweet from the union.

The job action forced most Ontario schools to pivot to virtual learning on Friday and Monday.

With files from The Canadian Press