How much can education workers be fined for striking if Ford’s legislation passes?
Posted November 2, 2022 4:38 pm.
Last Updated November 2, 2022 4:41 pm.
The ongoing game of chicken between the union representing education workers and Doug Ford’s government is edging dangerously close to a strike that could see gargantuan fines doled out.
The legislation currently being passionately debated at Queen’s Park states that individuals can be fined up to $4,000 per day, for each day on the picket line.
With 55,000 workers planning to walk off the job Friday if a deal isn’t reached, that would add up to a staggering $220,000,000 in potential fines — per day.
The union could be fined up to $500,000 per day according to the proposed legislation which would impose a contract on education workers while denying them the legal right to strike.
When asked if the union would foot the bill for workers should they face steep fines, CUPE’s director of communications, Karine Fortin, wouldn’t comment on a “hypothetical” situation.
“We remain focused on reaching a fair collective agreement for our members.”
The labour battle escalated on Wednesday after Education Minister, Stephen Lecce, said the government would not negotiate until CUPE’s strike notice was removed.
Laura Walton, the president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, stressed Wednesday that unless a deal was struck, the strike would proceed on Friday and possibly beyond.
“At this point without anything changing we are on strike until further notice starting Friday — unless a deal is reached.”
Walton was asked during a 3 p.m. news conference how potential monetary fines would be handled.
“You can see how desperate this government is just to punish workers, putting in place fines that are double what would normally be in place,” she said.
“But we are part of a very large union and even larger labour movement so there will be direction that will be provided to members on what to do should they receive a fine and how to proceed, and we will be there for them and with them every step of the way.”
Walton said if the strike does go ahead on Friday, workers will be picketing in front of MPP offices and she invited parents and students to join them.
