Teachers, educational assistants, custodial staff, and education workers across London Ontario gathered yesterday outside of MPP Peggy Sattler’s offices on Commissioners Road West.
They had arrived in droves at the usually quiet street to protest the Ford Governmeants’ treatment of education workers in recent years.
CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) which supports workers across Canada and represents over 55,000 education workers in the region, announced that after negotiations had once again broken down on October 30th that they would strike on Friday if a deal was not reached.
In response to CUPE’s ultimatum, Premier Doug Ford used the notwithstanding clause, declaring the protests illegal, and those participating in the protests would receive a $4000 fine.
Education workers struck anyway in defiance of the government’s orders and drew massive crowds of supporters.
I spoke with the protesters there that morning as they continued to march up and down the street continuing to circle around as some set up in the parking lot of Saddler’s offices.
“I think what the government has done that’s dangerous of invoking the notwithstanding clause is a very bad precedent that sets up for future unions and future labour disputes, and I think the government should be ashamed of itself.” said one of the supporters I had spoken with in support of a close friend.
The protest was not without its surprises though as one driver who bystanders said was heckling the protesters as they were driving by proceeded to crash next to the event with emergency services quickly responding.
Stephen Lecce, the Minister of Education of Ontario posted a tweet in response to the growing protests from Ontario’s education workers.
“Nothing matters more right now than getting all students back in the classroom and we will use every tool available to us to do so,” stated Lecce as he continued to attempt to negotiate to put an end to the protests, with the tweet in question receiving a large amount of backlash online.
Current attempts to negotiate are ongoing as tensions on both sides continue to rise.
We are using every tool available to government to end this illegal strike and get kids back to class. pic.twitter.com/QgW2G5vnkk
— Stephen Lecce (@Sflecce) November 4, 2022
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