‘No to 50% wage hike; 2% to 8% over time reasonable with best benefits’

‘No to 50% wage hike; 2% to 8% over time reasonable with best benefits’

Education Minister Stephen Lecce
(Photo screengrab)

Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce:

By Michelle Chermaine Ramos
LJI Reporter
The Philippine Reporter

On October 17, 2022, the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada held a virtual meeting with Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce to discuss the potential teachers and education workers strikes in Ontario.

Lecce emphasized the need for children to stay in school where they can have the full support of their teachers and friends with access to the physical and mental benefits of sports and clubs, and most importantly, to get back on track with their studies after enduring the last two years of the pandemic in virtual classes.

According to Lecce, the government has a plan to expand funding in public schools with over $650 million more invested for this school year compared to last year. This includes over $175 million invested to fund the largest tutoring plan which includes reading, writing and math and other STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math). Lecce adds that they quadrupled funding for mental health and hired 5,000 more staff which includes more teachers, math educators, science specialists, education assistants and custodians.

The government and the union will be in private mediation for the next two days in the hopes of settling on a deal. NEPMCC officer Maria Saras-Voutsinas expressed her frustration as a parent of a child in the final year of high school and asked the Minister what parents can do about the potential strike. Lecce is encouraging parents to speak up to all parties to urge them to agree on a deal. “I’m disappointed that the union continues today. They just received their no board report from the Ministry of Labour, meaning in 17 days from today that union CUPE is in an illegal strike position, and I think it is preposterous. It is unfair on children who after the last few years simply want to be in school,” said Lecce.

Some attendees raised the question of what the ministry will do if the union refuses to reach a deal and continues with the strike. Minister Lecce is optimistic that they will reach a deal provided that all parties are reasonable. “When CUPE came to the table wanting a nearly 50 percent increase in compensation, in addition to preserving the best pension, best benefits, best sick leave of 131 days– 11 days at 100 percent, 120 days at 90 percent–and you can carry over your days you don’t use last year to next year. I want to make clear these are people in our communities, they’re in my family. I respect them. We need more of them. We’re hiring as I noted nearly 5,000 more this September but I also believe that we have to be reasonable,” he said.

Lecce is urging education workers to take into consideration the fact that they are making more in their jobs compared to workers doing the exact jobs in different sectors such as colleges, universities, shops, manufacturing, banks and other workplaces which are open for all 12 months of the year compared to schools with summers off. “In any measurement when you are exceeding the standard making $27 on average and you have all those other entitlements, I do believe someone has to speak up to the taxpayer who should not have to be put in a position where you pay nearly $20 billion dollars or else I’m gonna strike. That’s not fair to kids,” he said.

Additionally, he said that based on teacher pay comparing the average top scale of salaries, Ontario teachers are the highest paid in the country averaging at $100,000 compared to British Columbia which also has a high cost of living but their top teachers’ salaries average at $91,000.

“We think it’s fair to give them a reasonable increase. Two percent, for example, for education workers. Eight percent over the course of that mandate is reasonable when you’re maintaining all the other benefits–the best pensions and benefits. But I do not believe a nearly 50 percent demand in compensation is an acceptable request,” Lecce explained.

The Parvasi Media Group raised concerns about overcrowded schools in Brampton and other suburbs experiencing an influx of immigrants and asked Minister Lecce about plans to accommodate students in those areas.

Lecce reported that Ontario is investing over $14 billion over the next ten years to build modern schools in Peel region. They have approved the building of new schools in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon and every municipality in the GTA and are investing in affordable childcare. There will be an emphasis on building schools focusing on skilled trades, science, technology, math and engineering, which will include math and tech labs and hand-on robotics to prepare students for the future.

Lecce said their goal is “to help young people understand the jobs of tomorrow and more importantly learn the skills that are going to help them succeed in the economy especially with the great disruptions happening in the economy and the competition happening globally.”