Demonstrations held outside Queen’s Park in support of Ontario education workers

Thousands shouted, danced, and marched outside Queen’s Park today after the Ford government implemented the notwithstanding act, a move that eliminates further talks and imposes wages that many say they can’t live with.

The notwithstanding clause imposed a new un-negotiated 4-year contract on 55,000 workers. Many of them take care of Ontario’s most vulnerable children for an average of less than $40,000 a year.

Today, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the province is heading to the Ontario Labour Relations Board to seek a declaration that the strike by the workers is illegal. The province has threatened to fine strikers $4,000 each or $500,000 a day for the union.

The workers CHCH News spoke with are mainly women and visible minorities. Many are also parents, and say the work day doesn’t end when the final bell rings, “we only work ten months of the year. We don’t work full-time. It’s only a ten-month block. So most of us, a lot of us have to work other jobs just to make ends meet.”

While the leaders of the unions say they are willing to strike for an indefinite amount of time, some of their members fear they just can’t afford it.

“This strike pay is not even going to be able to cover our rent or our bills. So the government should be ashamed of themselves.”