Wednesday, February 19, 2020
On Friday, nearly 200,000 teachers and education workers—members of AEFO, ETFO, OECTA, and OSSTF—will strike across the province, standing up against cuts to public education.
Job action is no union’s first choice. It’s a brave decision taken only when negotiations are at a standstill and all other reasonable options have been exhausted.
Adding insult to injury, the Government has been arguing its case in the media and based on several misleading claims, insinuating that issues are focused on compensation. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Every day on strike sees educators lose about 0.4 percent of their annual salary. Meaning, many will have already given back more than the 1% salary cap increase the Government intends to impose upon them (and all public servants as a result of Bill 124’s steamrolling of Charter-protected rights to free and fair collective bargaining).
That’s how dedicated teachers and education workers are to defending our education system.
Public sector unions are standing with educators because the government’s plan hurts more than just our own livelihood. Cuts hurt our next generation and the high-quality, public education system that we all benefit from.
The government’s plan cuts millions from education. It increases class sizes, giving our students less one-on-one attention. It cuts critical resources for students and educators, including specialized education services and supports for Ontario’s most vulnerable students. It puts classroom safety at risk. It imposes e-learning that evidence shows is not beneficial for students. To make matters worse, a recent Conference Board of Canada report shows that every dollar cut from education today will cost Ontario $1.30 in future economic benefit.
As public service professionals, we need to stand up for our province’s public services and for our own rights to free and fair collective bargaining.
On Friday, show your support for education workers and the young people they nurture.
- Contact your MPP.
- Wear red. Take a photo. Share it on social media with #RedForEd (and tag @AMAPCEO).
- Fight misinformation with the facts. Visit the education unions’ websites to learn more:
- I’ll be at a Queen’s Park rally representing our members alongside our Vice President and several local Board Directors. If you’re in the area on your lunch hour, please join us.
Stronger together,
Dave Bulmer
President & CEO