Hamilton education workers prepare to walk off the job Friday amidst heated labour negotiations

As education workers with Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) prepare to walk off the job Friday, Hamilton educational assistant Lucia Cirami says she plans to be among them. 

"[People say] we're not there for the best interest of the children, we're there just for the pay, and it's not true," Cirami said, in the midst of heated negotiations between CUPE and the provincial government.

"When it's all said and done, we don't get paid as much as we should be," said Cirami, who works with the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic School Board (HWCDSB).

CUPE represents 55,000 workers in Ontario, such as early childhood educators, educational assistants and custodians. 

HWCDSB says its schools will close for in-person learning if the 1,229 CUPE members who work with the board strike. 

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) has 535 CUPE members and says its schools will remain open in the event of a strike, although some after care programs are planning to close.

The Halton Catholic and public school boards have 1,830 CUPE members combined. Its Catholic schools plan to close, while public schools are expected to stay open. 

The Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB), which covers schools in Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk counties, says it has 960 CUPE members and says its schools will close, while Catholic schools in the area will be open as they do not have CUPE members. 

The public and Catholic boards in the Niagara region say its school will be closed. 

Education Minister Stephen Lecce introduced legislation Monday afternoon to avert a looming strike and impose a four-year contract on education workers. Under the proposed legislation, workers could face fines of up to $4,000 per day if they strike.

CUPE has said its workers, which make on average $39,000 a year, are generally the lowest paid in schools and had been seeking annual salary increases of 11.7 per cent.

The government originally offered raises of two per cent a year for workers making less than $40,000 and 1.25 per cent for all others, but Lecce said the new, imposed four-year 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 gave the government a counter offer late Tuesday, but Lecce said Wednesday that he won't negotiate those proposals unless the union cancels its plans to strike. 

"I'm again calling on CUPE to immediately withdraw this strike and work with us to keep kids in the classroom. Otherwise, to make sure schools don't close, we have no choice but to proceed with legislation," Lecce said.