CUPE 4400 president John Weatherup has dismissed as outrageous the latest offer from the Toronto District School Board, after the mediator suspended talks early Monday morning citing a lack of movement on wages and job security.
In a statement to the media, Weatherup listed the shortcomings in the boards position. Theyre trying to take away what we won in 1999 demanding the right to contract out our jobs on two weeks notice.
Theres no offer comparable to the teachers. The employer has barely moved in year one and two. Its one per cent plus one per cent plus two per cent plus 0.7 per cent. This is not even half of the teachers settlement, considering the conditions the board has attached, said Weatherup.
The board has tabled a 1.5 per cent conditional raise in a third year. Adding a third year of inferior, conditional raises does nothing to settle this dispute, he said.
Their offer is conditional upon the union allowing them to contract out our jobs with two weeks notice. Our demands are reasonable. Agreeing to the boards offer is unthinkable. The public understands our fight. We are strong and we will remain united until we win, Weatherup said
National President Judy Darcy joined striking workers at a mass picket at Jarvis Collegiate Institute Monday, bringing a message of solidarity on behalf of CUPE members across Canada.
This fight is about wages and its about no-contracting-out. But fundamentally, its about fairness and respect for school board workers, Darcy said.
Our members have sacrificed enough. We pay the same bills as teachers, and we need the same increase. Were tired of the sweet words and the fancy speeches from trustees, said Darcy.
If they want to show us they respect us they need to put it in their offer. We wont pay for an increase by selling our jobs or taking unpaid days. Its time for the trustees to join us in fighting Mike Harris and stop fighting its workers, she said.
After a week of cluster picketing, CUPE 4400 in increasing pressure by organizing mass pickets, announcing the locations one day in advance so teachers, students and parents can plan their day accordingly.