CUPE Strikes Continue and Here is Why

Students from all across Ontario are and continue to be affected by the CUPE strikes.

On Nov. 16, 2022, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced their mandatory five day notice for strike action, after their failed bargaining with the education system. Many Ontarians may not have a complete understanding of why CUPE has called a strike action.

CUPE has been pleading with the Ministry of Education for an annual wage increase of nearly 12 per cent for all workers, with additional increases in overtime pay. This also includes more staffing levels for early childhood workers in all kindergarten classrooms, and more custodians staffing in libraries, offices, and lunch rooms.

Due to CUPE’S strike action and the contributions they make to the school system, it is made aware that learning conditions are unsafe and inequitable for students. Stephen Lecce, the Minister of Education, is encouraging school boards all across Ontario to pivot to an online learning basis, stating “If a school board determines that it cannot maintain the healthy and safe operation of schools in-person, school boards must support students in a speedy transition to remote learning.”

CUPE has spoken upon their reasoning for the calling of a strike action and consider their motivation to be for the benefit of students and their continued learning environments.

The CUPE Ontario President, Fred Hahn, told CP24 “from the beginning, this bargaining has been about the chronically low wages of those workers, but it has also been about the services in schools.” He continues “there are resources available. The financial accountability officer says there's a budget surplus, there are ways in which the government could make these investments and actually help schools that actually help our kids.”

Both sides of the educational government have been fighting for the benefit of students and their learning environments, yet multiple parents, caregivers, and children continue to be left in the middle.