Hamilton Catholic schools to close Friday, public schools to stay open if CUPE members strike

Hamilton's Catholic school board says its schools will close Friday if the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) strike on Friday, while the city's public school board says its schools will stay open.

The public school board — Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board — is also asking the Ministry of Education to "consider a better deal that is supportive of CUPE education workers."

This comes after CUPE said Monday its members will walk off the job Friday in a province-wide protest, even after the Ontario government introduced legislation that intends to use the notwithstanding clause to impose a contract on education workers and avert a strike that was set to start Friday.

CUPE has said they will explore every avenue to fight the bill, but the government said it intends to use the notwithstanding clause — which can override certain portions of the charter for a five-year term — to keep the eventual law in force despite any constitutional challenges.

Education workers could face fines of up to $4,000 per day should they strike, the legislation states.

The union also said it will come up with financial support for any consequences that workers might face for protesting in the face of the legislation.

The government had been offering raises of two per cent a year for workers making less than $40,000 and 1.25 per cent for all others. The education minister said the new deal would give 2.5 per cent annual raises to workers making less than $43,000 and 1.5 per cent raises for all others.

CUPE members at HWDSB include the 500 caretakers and maintenance staff at the public school board.

There are over 1,000 members at the Catholic board — Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) — including clerical staff, educational assistants, social workers, designated early childhood educators, speech and language pathologists, psychometrics and child and youth social workers.

HWCDSB spokesperson Marnie Jadon shared a letter to parents with CBC Hamilton which states the schools will have to close "out of our priority concern for the health and safety and well-being of our students and staff."

"It is our hope that the matters under dispute can be resolved through negotiations prior to any strike action, and that a tentative agreement between the parties can be reached," reads the letter, adding it regrets any disruption this causes families.

How will HWDSB schools run if there's a strike?

HWDSB chair Dawn Danko in a statement on Sunday the school board is "disappointed" that bargaining hasn't progressed positively.

Here's what HWDSB says will happen if a strike occurs:

• HWDSB schools will stay open for teaching and learning during the instructional day, including excursions.
• School doors will open 15 minutes before bell time and will close 15 minutes after bell time.
• Athletics and extra‐curricular activities will be cancelled, as well as all rental permits on any board property.
• Existing early learning and child care centres (Birth to age 3.8) will be open on a modified schedule to align with the school bell times.
• EarlyON Child and Family Centres, all licenced before‐and-after school programs, and all authorized recreation programs will be cancelled.
• Regular scheduled meetings offered after‐hours (board meetings, committee meetings of the board, school council, expulsion meetings, etc.) will move to, or continue to be offered in, remote using Microsoft Teams.

At least one public school board trustee has also publicly supported the union.

"To be clear: the ONLY thing harming students is [Stephen Lecce's] refusal to offer a fair contract to workers. Anti-strike legislation does not keep kids in schools — fair wages and more funding does, tweeted trustee Sabreina Dahab.

'Mass exodus' of workers could come: local president

Marilyn Pavao, president of the local CUPE 3396 representing Catholic board workers, told CBC Hamilton the school board has been "very supportive."

Blake Corkill, president of CUPE 4153 which represents HWDSB workers, said the union has a good relationship with the school board, adding local contract negotiations have been "progressing productively and positively." 

Corkill said he thinks if Lecce continues to try and oppose the unions, families and students will be hit hardest.

"I expect school boards across Ontario will be faced with a mass exodus of education workers who simply cannot endure another 4 years of working conditions that will deteriorate the workplace, students learning environments and their ability to provide for their families even further," he wrote in an email to CBC Hamilton.