Ontario education workers hold walkout with many schools closed indefinitely

Ontario’s education workers have officially walked off the job today despite legislation passed at Queen’s Park that made a strike illegal.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 55,000 support workers such as custodians, administrative staff and educational support workers, said they are striking “until further notice,” insinuating that the strike will persist next week.

Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce passed anti-strike legislation Thursday to impose a four-year contract on education workers that bars them from striking.

As part of the bill, striking workers could face a daily fine of up to $4,000, while the union could be slapped with a $500,000 fine.

If the maximum penalty is imposed, the daily bill could amount to $220 million per day.

One of the largest strike locations was at Toronto’s Queen’s Park where picketers started arriving around 7 a.m. for a full day of protesting.

Hundreds of the protesters were seen holding CUPE flags and signs that said “No Cuts to Education” and “I support education workers.”

Many of the protesters said they came out to fight for a better living wage and more support from the government as the cost of living continues to rise in the province.

“We should stand up for our rights and be able to negotiate our freedom…We are only asking for standard of living,” a protester who identified himself as Amar told CP24 at Queen’s Park.

CTV.ca