Serious shots fired in Labour dispute between CUPE and Ford Government

Members of Ontario’s legislature were debating a bill early this morning that would impose a contract on education workers and ban them from striking.

The Progressive Conservative government has ordered the legislature back at 5 a.m. in order to speed up passage of the bill.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce introduced the Bill yesterday.

The union representing 55-thousand education support staff says they will be off the job at the end of the week despite provincial legislation banning them from going on strike.

Here’s their President Fred Hahn.

More: Should CUPE education workers walk on Friday in protest, CDSBEO and UCDSB schools will be closed

Hanh elaborated on how the membership, which includes Educational Assistants, Librarians, and Custodians among others, feels about the provincial move.

The government plans to impose a contract on the CUPE workers and intends to use the notwithstanding clause to shield the bill from constitutional challenges.

Lecce says the government is clear as to why they’ve made the move.

The two sides are due back at the negotiating table today. If a deal is reached, there would be no protest on Friday.