CUPE-OSBCU education workers continued to picket Friday afternoon after bargaining fell apart, but fair wages aren’t the only thing on their mind.
“We’re here to say enough’s enough, we’re going to take a stand because we feel that they’ve taken away the Charter rights with not giving us the right to negotiate a fairer collective agreement,” said CUPE Local 256 president Bill Foster.
“We want the government to get rid of this bill. It affects everybody,” said Brad Scott, who works for the Wellington Catholic District School Board, about the legislation the province enacted Thursday making strike action illegal.
Those on the picket line could be fined up to $4,000. But so far, no one on the Guelph picket line has been fined.
A similar protest was held Friday in front of MPP Ted Arnott's office in Fergus.
Scott said so far, they’ve seen “great support” from the public and other unions. Lloyd Longfield and Mike Schreiner also stopped by Friday morning to show their support.
Joining in the protest were members of the United Steelworkers' Union.
Now, they just want the chance to get back to the bargaining table, “like everyone else used to be able to do.”
Regarding potential school closures due to the strike, he said, “We want the kids to learn. We want the schools open, and we want to be at work.”
UGDSB and WCDSB will be releasing an update later today regarding potential school closures next week.
