We interviewed Todd Canning, President of CUPE local 1734 (York Region District School Board) who is part of the provincial bargaining team.
- Todd Canning represents a union local of 3,200 out of 55,000 provincial members, 96.5% of whom have given a strike mandate.
- His members include special education assistants, library technicians, custodians and office workers who earn on average of $39,000 a year.
- Their wages are not sufficient for rent, let alone the high and rising costs of living in York Region.
- Bill 124 holds them to a 1% annual increase, which has continually shrunk their take-home pay for years, so a catch-up is required.
- Members want Bill 124 to be repealed, bargaining rights to be respected, and MPPs to know that parents support their demands.
- Fines are a tactic to bully members into submission and force school closures, which government is using to gain public support.
- All that members, students and parents want is sufficient support to do their essential jobs.
- After serving beyond the call of duty during the pandemic, members deserve a fair settlement at the negotiating table.
- If necessary, settlement should be reached by arbitration, not by force, since the notwithstanding clause will deprive them of their charter rights to collective bargaining.
- Members are calling on the Minister of Education to bargain with them in good faith, but he has never personally shown up during negotiations.
