Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

MUSKOKA — Hundreds of CUPE educational workers were off work today to fight for more than wage increases.

And they could be out Monday if not longer depending.

He said as of late Friday afternoon that’s the plan according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

And TLDSB, too, is preparing for further disruption next week.

See education director Wes Hahn’s statement below.

After the province yesterday imposed a contract on them and prevented them from challenging it, the educational assistants (EAs), office, accounting, custodial and maintenance workers demonstrated their opposition by parading back and forth in front of Conservative MPP Graydon Smith’s north Manitoba Street constituency office.

School workers say the MNRF minister was not in his second floor office above a doctor’s office and pharmacy.

The protesters were on the street at 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with signs walking past the South Muskoka Medical Centre building between Ann Street to Hwy. 118.

Bill Campbell, president of Local 997, which represents the 800 workers at schools across the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB), said shortly after that the pre-planned demonstration went “smoothly and peacefully.”

Speaking from his vehicle on his way back to the Lindsay area where he started the day, he said the province’s move Thursday is a “slippery slope.”

The use of the Charter of Rights’ not-withstanding clause to impose an agreement is precedent-setting.

Campbell said TLDSB’s educational workers are the third-lowest paid school board in Ontario. He said they make about $34,000 to $35,000, which is about less than the $39,000 average salary for the striking workers province-wide.

He has been a CUPE member for 24 years and worked in the Lindsay Education Centre as an IT employee until eight years ago when he took leave to be Local 997 president.

He said most of the 800 CUPE members are  EAs who work directly with students.

And about 300 of them work in Muskoka schools. The others are employed in the City of Kawartha and the smaller county of Haliburton.

A stream of purple-shirted protesters were greeted with horn-honking from supporters passing by in cars and trucks on a sunny end of week day.

By early afternoon — seven hours online — many looked a little weary, resting on stone seating at the corner of Ann and Manitoba streets the intersection to the Bracebridge hospital.

But undeterred.

Over in Lindsay, Campbell said it was the same story outside the office of Tory MPP Laurie Scott.

The union rep said a problem is hiring enough support workers who are paid a fair wage; and that when there is a staff shortage of just a few people that could mean have the workers in a department.

Campbell also said, without elaborating, that working conditions are also a problem.

He said school boards try to recruit students out of EA college courses like the two-year programs offered at Georgian College and Fleming in Lindsay.

At least one person out with a sign is taking that route.

Diana McConnell, who works retail in Bracebridge, is undeterred by what’s going on and is headed back to school in January to study online at Confederation College to be an EA.

She’s a “huge decent work advocate” with two kids who says she understands and supports the plight of the protesters.

That’s why she was out today.

See her video interview below outside Smith’s office this afternoon.

School board response  

Meanwhile, TLDSB education director Wes Hahn issued the following statement to parents and caregiverss late this afternoon:

“Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time of labour action between the government of Ontario and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). As discussions between these groups continue, we will keep you up-to-date on the status of learning next week and send you another update this Sunday, November 6. Please be prepared with alternative arrangements for your child(ren) next week should the strike continue.

If there is no resolution made before Monday, November 7, and the strike action (full withdrawal of services) continues, students will be provided with asynchronous work from their teacher on their online classroom platform (Google Classroom, Brightspace, Seesaw) on Monday. Your child(ren)’s teacher will be reaching out to ensure students are prepared for learning.

For all labour updates as they relate to Trillium Lakelands District School Board, visit our Labour Relations Update page.

I am committed to keeping you informed and will share an update as quickly as possible.”

Diana McConnell plans to go back to school in January to study two years to be an EA.

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