Ontario education workers’ union strike vote expected today

The union that represents 55,000 education workers in Ontario is expected to announce today if its members support going on strike.

This comes amid contract talks with the province.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have been voting on a potential since Sept. 23 and wrapped up yesterday.

CUPE represents workers including early childhood educators, school administration workers, bus drivers and custodians.

CUPE has asked Ontario for annual raises of 11.7 per cent which is about $3.25 per hour. The union argues wages have been restricted over the last decade and are not enough to keep up with inflation.

CUPE adds the Ford government is offering a two per cent raise to education workers making less than $40,000 a year and a 1.25 per cent wage increase to everyone else. That amounts to between 33 and 53 cents an hour.

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

A vote in support of a strike does not mean an immediate strike would take place.