A large crowd of CUPE members and supporters gathered Friday morning outside of Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson's constituency office in downtown Kincardine to protest the government’s new law that imposes contracts on education workers.
Emily Cole, regional Ccmmunications lead for CUPE local 1176, says the government should be focused on making a deal, not taking away their right to protest.
“We are done with our rights being taken away. We should be able to bargain and negotiate, as well as try to keep the kids in school, and get a fair wage for all the people that are strictly involved in the schools and make the schools work,” said Cole.
The province’s “Keeping Kids in Class Act” sets out fines for taking part in the strike of up to $4,000 per employee per day, while there are fines of up to $500,000 for the union.
Cole says they’ve received tremendous support from the public.
“There’s support just pouring in through social media, through text messages, through emails, from our schools, from our staff, the public, and especially the parents who are on our side, as much as [Education Minister Stephen Lecce] would like to think the parents are with him, they are not,” she added.
Cole has a message for the public.
“We are doing this for your children’s future, for our future, and this is a fight for every worker in Canada and in Ontario. We are showing our solidarity and we will paint the streets purple,” said Cole.
The crowd of protestors was filled with members of CUPE locals 1176 and 3447, the Grey Bruce Labour Council, as well as some teachers, students, parents, and members of the general public.