The Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament who represents Renfrew County says his government did the right thing by passing legislation last week that made a work stoppage by Canadian Union of Public Employees education workers illegal.
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski says the strategy worked, as it put pressure on CUPE to end the stoppage, which had forced school boards to pivot to, always unpopular, remote learning.
“It was always our intention to do what is necessary to make it clear that we were going to use every tool at our disposal to ensure our children’s education would be disrupted as little as possible,” he says. “We believe we’ve been successful, because children will be back in school (on Tuesday) and negotiations can re-start.”
CUPE’s decision to go back to work – based on the province’s promise to rescind last week’s legislation – does not end the labour dispute. But it means the two sides will continue negotiating, as the workers remain on the job.
The striking workers included secretaries, custodians and teacher’s assistants.
Yakabuski believes parents supported Premier Doug Ford’s approach. He said it was CUPE, and not the government, that was acting irresponsible.
“We always maintained we were ready to sit at the bargaining table,” he says. “It was the union that, five days before that, indicated they planned to walk out, last Friday. Our response was, well, if you’re saying you’re going to walk out, that means disruptions to the class and children, we’re going to take whatever necessary steps we need to take.
