Education workers will not accept reported ‘improved offer’ from Ford: CUPE

Education workers may be back on the job after talks between their union and the province resumed Tuesday, but it appears the two sides are still far apart on some key issues.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing more than 50,000 education support staff, say they will not accept a ‘two-tier offer’ from the province — a two-tier wage increase was reported to be part of the latest offer from the Ford government.

“We have been clear, a deal will be made which is a substantial flat rate increase,” reads a statement from the bargaining committee released on Wednesday. “Such an offer would fall short of what you as workers need to ratify a deal.”

A government source tells CityNews the latest offer presented a 3.5 per cent annual increase for the lowest paid workers and a closer to 2 per cent increase for higher paid workers. Those numbers are up from 2.5 per cent and 1.5 per cent as part of the four-year deal imposed by the province’s soon-to-be repealed back-to-work legislation.

The premier’s office has disputed the specific numbers of the latest offer. CUPE says they have not received an offer with those numbers but if they did they would not recommend it to their members.

Update: CUPE says it will not accept a “two tier offer” and that has not received offer mentioned in previous tweet. (Other media have reported similar numbers) Premier's office disputes the numbers but will not release details out of respect for mediator.

— Cynthia Mulligan (@CityCynthia) November 8, 2022

The government source also says the province is trying to “tone down the temperature” as talks resume and Premier Doug Ford appeared to strike a more agreeable tone while speaking on Wednesday.

“I don’t want to fight. I just want the kids in school,” Ford said while announcing his government had delivered an “improved offer” to the union. “Just as we are listening to CUPE, we also need CUPE to listen to us.”

The premier claimed that any agreement would have an impact on the four major teachers’ contracts also in bargaining, and increases could lead to “tens of billions of dollars” of increases to the teachers, and he needs to watch Ontario’s bottom line.

The union says it stands ready to strike again if talks don’t go in the direction they like, but they would need to give five-days notice.

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 offering to repeal its legislation banning strikes and imposing a four-year contract on them.

The province says legislation to repeal Bill 28 will be tabled on Nov. 14.

The province controversially included the notwithstanding clause in its legislation, saying it intended to use the clause to guard against constitutional challenges.

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

— With files from Cynthia Mulligan