Ontario presenting CUPE with ‘improved’ offer: Doug Ford

Article content

The Ontario government put an “improved” offer on the table for CUPE education workers, one that focused on the lowest-paid school staff, Premier Doug Ford says.

Article content

One day after Ford promised to rescind Bill 28 in its entirety — including the controversial use of the notwithstanding clause to override Charter rights that cover collective bargaining — kids were back in class and all sides in the dispute were at the negotiating table.

Article content

“While I can’t get into details, we’re back at the table with an improved offer, particularly for the lower income workers,” Ford said Tuesday, adding he remains concerned about the impact of any deal with CUPE on broader public service salaries and especially teacher pay. “That’s why it’s so important that CUPE understands where we’re coming from.”

Laura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU), did a series of television interviews Tuesday, telling Global News that she wants the Ford government to recall the legislature this week to kill Bill 28 before Remembrance Day.

Article content

The Ontario legislature is not sitting for a constituency week when MPPs typically go back to their home ridings, but is scheduled to return Monday.

Ford said the legislature will return Monday, when he expects to rescind the Keeping Students in Class Act quickly, with the support of opposition MPPs.

“I don’t want to fight; I just want the kids in school,” he said.

Recommended video

The premier made a point of thanking CUPE Canada, Unifor and private sector unions for helping bring the sides back together.

The Ontario Progressive Conservatives unveiled a strong list of union supporters during the spring election, after Labour Minister Monte McNaughton worked for several years to build a new relationship with the labour movement.

Those union supporters lined up with CUPE Ontario to fight Bill 28 as an unprecedented attack on collective bargaining rights.

Ford said he doesn’t believe the dispute will impact his relationship with construction union giant LiUNA.

“There’s going to be things that we may disagree on … we’ll probably agree on 98% of the items that we put forward,” Ford said. “They’ve been a great partner with the trades and trade centres … They’re going to be a great partner in building 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years.”

aartuso@postmedia.com