Ontario Education Workers’ Union releases results of strike vote in talks with province

TORONTO – A union representing thousands of education workers in Ontario is expected to announce today whether its members support a strike as part of contract talks with the province.

Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees voted on a possible strike mandate from September 23 to October 2, and the union plans to announce the results at a news conference this morning.

CUPE demanded an 11.7 percent annual pay rise from the province, equivalent to about $3.25 an hour, arguing that workers’ wages had been curtailed over the past decade and were insufficient to keep up with inflation Keep up.

It said the Ford administration is offering education workers earning less than $40,000 a year a 2 percent pay rise and everyone else a 1.25 percent pay rise, which amounts to between 33 and 53 cents an hour.

CUPE represents 55,000 workers, including educators, school administrators, bus drivers and caregivers.

Labor deals for Ontario’s five major education unions expired August 31, and CUPE is scheduled to resume negotiation talks with the province on Thursday.