ALL OUT for Education Workers
Education workers are vital to Ontario’s public education system. Right now, they’re fighting for safe schools, adequate staffing, and decent jobs in our communities.
Here are 4 solidarity actions you can join to show your support for education workers:
1) Friday, October 21: Paint the Province Purple
On Friday, we’re putting up Support Education Workers posters in English and French at schools in our neighbourhoods. We're also sharing these flyers about what's at stake in this fight.
Scroll down this email for a list of actions at schools across the province. We’ll be meeting either in the morning before school or in the afternoon right as classes are finished.
If you’d like to host your own action, sign up here and let us know the details.
2) Saturday, October 22: Hands Off Our Rights Protest
On Saturday, we are joining CUPE Education workers at the Ontario PC Caucus Convention for lunch! Let’s send a strong message that education workers are not alone in this fight.
Where: Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Rd, Etobicoke
When: 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Help spread the word about this action on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
3) Wednesday, October 26: Paint the Province Purple
Every Wednesday, we are encouraging everyone to paint the province purple. Scroll down for 5 easy actions you can take on Wednesdays.
| Click here to RSVP |
4) Wednesday, November 2: Emergency phone action
Wednesday, November 2 is the day before education workers may be forced to take job action if the Ontario government refuses to fix the crisis in our public school system. Join us that day at 7:00 pm to raise our voices loudly and clearly to let our elected representatives know you support education workers!
What’s at stake?
Over the last four years, Ford’s Conservatives have cut funding for schools by $800 per student (adjusted for inflation). In 2021-22, cuts totalled $1.6 billion.
These cuts result in poor ventilation, inadequate cleaning and overcrowded classrooms. During the COVID pandemic, our schools weren’t safe for students and Ontario experienced more school closures than anywhere else in Canada.
Cuts to funding also mean cuts to services for students. This includes dwindling one-on-one support from Educational Assistants, school libraries without library workers, reduced custodial services and a backlog of basic school maintenance.
Education workers are fed up with the underfunding of Ontario’s education system and the undervaluing of the workers that make the system run. It simply can't continue this way.
The government has the resources to address all these issues, but so far, they are refusing to do so. That’s why education workers have concluded they have no other choice than to take job action, should collective bargaining fail to fix the problems.
Let's be clear. No worker wants to be forced into a strike.
But, if we show our support now, it's still possible to push this government to do what’s right and resolve this situation immediately.
Now is the time to raise our voices and make sure that education workers are not alone in this fight.
October 26: Paint the Province Purple - Show your support for education workers
1) Wear PURPLE!
2) Print a purple sign (click here) to support education workers (or email [email protected] to order some)
3) Share your pix on social media!
- Snap a solidarity selfie holding the sign and post it to social media with the following hashtags: #Justice4Workers #OntEd #39KisNOTenough #ONpoli
- If you’re a member of a community organization or union, make sure to mention the name of your group in your post.
- Organize a group photo with your signs and purple gear. Again, if you’re a member of a community organization or union, identify the group in your post, and use the hashtags above. Click here for an example.
- More social media sharables are available here or here.
4) Make sure your MPP hears your support for education workers by sending them an email at this link.
5) Get the facts on why a win for education workers will make it easier for the rest of us to win a $20 minimum wage, safe working conditions and decent work - right across Ontario!
