Ontario school support staff could start work-to-rule as early as next week

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Chris Herhalt CP24.com

A child walks in the hallway of a school with a guardian in this undated photograph.

School support workers including early childhood educators, librarians, secretaries and custodians could begin a work-to-rule campaign in Ontario public schools as early as this Monday, union sources tell CP24.

Sources from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) say that they plan to send a letter to the Ministry of Education and trustees from all school boards giving five days’ notice of job action.

If sent Wednesday, a work-to-rule campaign involving 55,000 school workers outside of teaching and management could begin on Sept. 30.

It is not known what activities the work-to-rule campaign would entail, but CUPE sources said it could involve custodians not sweeping hallways of schools, as their job descriptions today typically do not require them to do so.

School support staff has not been spared during the Ford Government’s ongoing cuts to public education.

Several hundred roles, including but not limited to custodians, early childhood educators and librarians, were lost at the start of the school year throughout the GTA due to Ford’s cuts to education.

This comes as major teaching unions are engaged in negotiations for a new contract and school support workers have already voted to authorize a strike.

The Ford government has said it is looking to keep wage increases for all public sector workers at no more than one per cent per year for 2020 and 2021.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce issued a statement urging CUPE to get back to the bargaining table.

"Our government remains focused on keeping kids in the classroom and delivering a deal that gives students and parents predictability and certainty. This will not change. I urge CUPE and the employers to come back to the table and direct their efforts toward reaching a deal as quickly possible. Our government remains available at any time to restart talks with CUPE and keep students in school. Kids and parents deserve no less."