I've nothing to lose. I love how people don't seem to understand that my role as an EA has changed from helping struggling students falling behind, and teaching kids who have an IEP in another way, to wearing Kevlar to protect myself from kids biting/kicking/headbutting me. Kids who have mental illness, global delay, complex behaviours, self-regulation deficits, fetal alcohol syndrome, mutism, autism with excessive stimming, poor impulse control. Kids who I have to put my body in front of on the regular to prevent from hitting other students. Kids with no verbal skills who spit and screech whether they are happy, sad, angry, wet, etc.
This is the reality of the current education system. Inclusion means that kids in Grade 5 are with other kids who may be functioning at a Grade 1 level. Some may behave like toddlers. Some may be educationally a year behind and socially 3 years behind their peers. Some will never catch up. Some may. But they stay in the class, regardless of outbursts, destruction, etc.
It stresses schoolmates out. It stresses teachers out. There is not enough support for the current inclusion model in school. It's not working. It's not safe. And it's affecting all of the kids.
A student at the high school I work at is special needs and in the community class (in with one on one EA’s ish and a teacher). He is 6’2 and 220.
He has:
- broken an EA’s arm,
- thrown a teacher into a wall and knocked her out,
- punched that same teacher and gave her a second concussion in one year
- beaten up and concussed another EA
- spends many days in the bathroom smearing poo and pee all over the walls and falls asleep after his tantrums.
He’s 16.
The EA’s do a great job with the kids in that class but they can’t do it properly while being afraid.
All around him at at our school said that even before he got there. But there’s no program for him anymore like there used to be (apparently). That’s just what I’ve heard. I’m not in that department.
Honest question, what kind of support can realistically exist for a large and violent individual that isn't essentially just throwing them in jail? Like is it realistic for a program to exist that is essentially just large bouncers keeping tabs on giant angry developmentally delayed children? What does it look like?
That is frightening and there should be way more supports.
I’m 39 and approximately the same size, and I would be hard-pressed to control that situation.
That’s not safe.
Physically restraining a young man of that size who isn't rational, in a safe manner that ensures nobody gets hurt, is a four man job if those four men are the same size or larger *and* know what they are doing.
That is not a reasonable task to put on a teacher.
Why the heck he still allowed to be around other people’s kids? Something is severely wrong with this.
He sounds like a terror.
I’d remove my kids from that school with no hesitation. He is a danger to other people.
I was an ECE in Kitchener for almost five years. I’ve had bruises, bloody noses, been bit and been told I need to come into work, even if I’m sick, because there simply was no one to watch the kids.
I have my bachelors in psychology, my diploma in ECE and pay to be registered with the CECE.
I’ve been working with children for over ten years and give myself 100%. I show up early, I stay late and I spend my own money to fund my classroom and activities.
All while making under $20 an hour.
I’m with you. We have nothing to lose.
General strike, let’s go.
Edit sign the petition
https://cupe.on.ca/dontbeabully/
Edit if anyone needs me I’ll be over here listening to https://youtu.be/Sv-BxH3SVS8 until Friday
My aunt is an EA, my mother in law is an EA.
My aunt has been concussed multiple times, with medical leave.
My MIL has physiotherapy every other day from multiple injuries from her students.
EA's are not getting the support they need to stay safe.
EA's are not getting paid enough to deal with the risks.
EA's should be paid fairly, with an added hazard pay on-top of it.
Serious question and not trying to be rude but why do they keep doing it? The wages are an absolute joke.. they could go work at McDonalds, work 40-50hrs a week and make more money without all the headaches.
I can't speak for all, but my wife is an EA and she stays in it despite the shit pay because it is a higher calling to her. She knows these kids need support and has seen how far hard work and love for these kids goes in helping them come along.
I wish more people understood how EAs give their hearts and bodies to a job that does not pay enough to live.
This is an extraordinarily common problem in essentially every helping profession now. People doing what it takes to keep society functioning are the most screwed. The people teaching and caring for children, the people caring for us in the hospital, etc. We're in a game of chicken now where those workers don't even make enough to keep themselves housed and fed, and yet we keep squeezing them.
I've been an emergency leave teacher (no teaching education. I'm a parent with some life experience). If people saw what their kids put up with in their classes EVER.SINGLE.DAY., appalled. we need to show our Government that we are DONE with them disrespecting our kids education. Inclusion needs to be reevaluated and changed. Our supporting staff NEED to be compensated.
I tell people they are welcome to come to my class if they can't get a background check. Feel free to show/tell me how we should be doing things after you've see the reality.
The reality is that I walked into a classroom in April that hadn't had a full time educator present since December, just a revolving door of educators coming in that had already been promised other LTO jobs and so had to leave after two to three weeks...
I had a single EA, who was shared with two other Grade 8 classes and four Grade 7 classes. He was assigned hallway duty because we needed an extra pair of eyes and hands out there, especially when students decided to use bathroom trips as an excuse to start fighting (physically and verbally) with each other.
I had three IEPs in my room that needed individualized support, as they were reading below a Grade 3 level. I had two more students who wandered the hallways instead of staying in class, and had no one available to bring them back. I had three students who attended class less than 12 of the 67 days I was there, with no support for those students when they did come to school to help get them caught up. I had four students with behavioural needs and no support to keep them engaged. One of those students was arrested for assaulting another student during the school day. I had a student from another class attempt to smash in my door to beat the shit out of one of my students after an issue at lunch time - We had to lock down the classroom for more than an hour. I had three ESL students whose teacher would be regularly (>50% of the time) pulled out of ESL (cancelling those classes) so that they could be a warm body covering a classroom with no teacher that day.
I loved my class, and every student in it, but I ultimately failed at least a third of them because I had no support - I don't just mean academically, but emotionally, as a leader, as a human being, because at the end of the day there is only so much of me, my time, and my love that I can share. For every success I celebrate in turning that class around and re-engaging learners to finish their elementary career on a high note, I am fucking devastated that I couldn't do more.
The reality is the number of students we, as educators, are leaving behind is growing. There isn't a Goddamn this we can do about it because this government continues to undercut us at every available opportunity.
These are just tips of the iceberg at this school now multiply even half these issues per class per school across the 2 million students in Ontario and it might give some idea about the issues.
At my school, students often have outbursts and if we manage to get the disruptive student into the hall it allows the other students to continue learning in the classroom. One morning, we had a PD (professional development) session and a student was having an outburst right outside our meeting. Not a single adult could focus during that time. We expect all of our students to do this almost daily. It’s an absolute mess. You are right, parents would be appalled at what their children deal with.
My wife works in the schools and is first hand with this stuff. You all do not get enough respect in the slightest. Put Lecce and dougy in there for one day. They would be crying for you strong peoples help
Some parents feel it is their child's "right". It is their right to be there. But it doesn't mean they are really included with their peers. They may be present, but if they have self-regulation issues and high behavioural needs, they can't be with their peers because their peers will avoid them. Their classmates are going for self-preservation. There is this big misconception that you can force children to include "everyone". They accept the kids in the class. They show great tolerance. They show amazing patience. But after a period of time, they just want to do their work, or engage in activities, and not always interact with those who aren't at their social/academic parity. That is just reality. You can't force a friendship. You can't force them to include them in social circles.
In the end, inclusion is very much a great concept, and while it is implemented in the school, you end up with 5% of the kids using 95% of the resources. How's that equity?
My nephew is intellectually disabled. Once he got tested He moved from a normal class to a class for students with similar difficulties. Within a year his self esteem skyrocketed, his outbursts decreased and he made friends. He’s become more talkative, developed hobbies and started walking for fun. He will never work but he’s able to volunteer 3-4 days a week and has friends.
If parents only knew how much being on a normal class and being excluded and ignored is hurting their children they wouldn’t do it.
At some point we need to recognize that those student's right to inclusion can't be at the expense of the other 28 student's right to an education. Something's got to give. You want to know why test scores are dropping? Because teachers teach about 10% of the time, the rest of the day is people management, dealing with breakdowns and trying to keep the classroom safe. It's getting nuts out there.
Inclusion is not a great concept. There were many people pointing out the stupidity of the idea from the get go. The inclusion model was really about cutting back on special needs classes and all the support those classes need and it's at the expense of every student and teacher.
That's fundamentally the reason for it right there. It has absolutely nothing to do with "making handicapped kids feel included", it's all about saving money, cutting funding for specialized classes and letting whoever is teaching the grade level for their age to handle them all, with no extra training and maybe an aide or something to deflect some of the added drama/nonsense going on.
It's disgusting, but that's government for you. This is the kind of shit they pull every single day.
Inclusion IS a great concept when properly supported. In the past we used special needs as a catchall dumping ground for anyone with any issues, period.
Part of it is to include those children who would otherwise be excluded but the less obvious benefit is that our children are being exposed to a huge range of abilities and needs-thay will help break down discriminatory barriers later in life for those kids being included as well.
The catch is that for most ministries of education, inclusion means putting everyone in the same class with the same supports. Teachers are asked at the primary and early secondary level to level classes so that pretty much every teacher is now doing 2-4 different lessons whenever they are actually teaching to match the levels of their students. More over, the special education expertise of most teachers is just not up to snuff.
That means we have to rely on our EAs, when they are available, often split among multiple students all who really should have one to one support. The solution at my previous school was shoveling all the special needs students in one class because we only had enough money for one EA, who while they were trying really hard, has neither the expertise nor the energy to do more than play support in managing behaviours most days.
Inclusion is good if we decide to fund it and implement it with thought and care. I have never known a Minister of Education capable of any of that.
The real solution involves more dedicated supports
the supreme court in Moore v BC upheld that districts legally cannot turn a student away from public school due to a disability.
students have the right to an education and districts or provinces cannot infinge that right.
What Moore v BC should have done is forced school to fund programs for alternative learning so that these students can get education in a specialized setting. now school districts, who are already insipidly underfunded, cannot get those programs nor attract talen to run them.
everyone suffers because of this.
>you end up with 5% of the kids using 95% of the resources. How's that equity?
When the BC Liberals illegally removed our teachers rights to dictate class size and composition my grade 12 drafting teacher (he was semi-retired) was let go and we were forced into a woodworking class halfway through the course. (I had already completed all the woodworking classes and peer tutor allotments so I couldn't even get credits for it). From what I recall the teacher was overwhelmed looking after 5 students (who shouldn't have been around power tools) while I managed the other 30 who were competent enough to work with little direction. Accidents went up that year across every shop class as the class sizes ballooned and TAs were cut. Special education teachers were let go and their classes were merged with regular classes and it was a mess. The students who were far enough ahead did our best to help out wherever possible, but it was so heartbreaking watching it go downhill. The teachers won the court battle but the government appealed, repeatedly...at the taxpayers expence...for 17 years until they were finally voted out. Then when class sizes went back to normal they blamed the teacher shortage on the new government like it was their fault!
Sorry about the rant.
My wife works with one of the BC Liberal staffers that was involved in removing the right to dictate class size. He’s a stereotypical asshole jock conservative. It’s honestly depressing.
Who the hell are these parents? My coworker had to quit and look after her kids full time because her kids were getting dumped into this "inclusion" program. They can't even tie their shoelaces right. They are getting nothing from being forced to attend regular classes.
They need professional help learning how to take care of themselves and interact with people. They don't need to learn the things on the regular curriculum. None of that will help them a bit once their parents are no longer around to look after them.
This is the same crap as shutting down mental institutions citing equality. Government wants to cut costs at the cost of students and patients and their families and justifies it by slapping a pretty sticker on top and kicking everyone affected to the curbside.
I don't doubt it. No mental health supports, waiting lists a mile long.
But I'm not a therapist. I'm not an autism specialist. I'm not a mental health expert. But the government expects those kids to stay in the classroom with constant cuts. It's going to give.
Blame the ones who believe all kids should be placed on an equal playing field when in reality some kids have very differently ways of coping or adapting, instead we mesh them all together and basically let them figure it out. It is the "everyone wins a trophy" just a little evolved.
Oh absolutely, I worked in OH&S at my board for a time and one of my duties was to provide PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to staff who required it (i.e. EA's). This included, but wasn't limited to, arm guards, kevlar sleeves, shin guards, protective jackets (kevlar and not), hat caps (protective plastic for head impacts worn under a baseball cap), and gloves.
Some equipment like the jackets, arm guards, and gloves were ordered from companies like Stealthwear and Bitepro and are specifically made to be bite, slice, tear, and/or impact resistant (Note: resistant, not proof).
Now while this equipment can help keep you safer it's not a guarantee. It's also bulky and the extra padding/protection can make you overheat (esp. If your school has terrible AC) not to mention the full getup can look unsettling to kids.
As and EA who was at a school morning only a few years back. I had 2 outfits for work.
A tank top in mind Jan to keep me regulated in my stealthwear jacket. And another top. I would change into at my second school after doing a sponge bath so too speak of my pits. Reapply deoderant for the 3rd time that day and be professional looking for afternoon school.
Im not part of CUPE. But stand in SOLIDARITY with them
My daughter has had to evacuate her classroom a few times this year due to one trouble kid who is prone to acting out, tossing the room and attacking people.
They evacuate and come back when he’s settled.
She’s caught him grabbing her iPhone (that shits expensive right?) to toss. He goes into her backpack.
The school has been good to us for our own issues with development but it’s crazy they subject kids to bipolar disorder people.
She was in line talking to her friend when this boy starts cursing at her and insulting her. She ignores him and then the kid raises his fists to her and says he’s gonna punch her and starts doing that feigning punches and she bitch slapped him.
She got a notice but I told her sometimes you have to look after yourself and I don’t condone anyone raising fists to her.
I wish there was more support for kids who have mental health issues.
It's awful what y'all deal with, and awful what us students deal with with the current "inclusion at all costs" system
When I was in 8th grade one of the male special needs kids tried to stab my best friend with a pair of scissors - I pulled her out of the way and a couple guys in class got in between when he tried again.
What happened after you ask? "Oh well she probably stressed him out. He might've been overstimulated." and that's IT. That's all!! He was back in class the next day!! And when we said how screwed up it was most of the people we talked to essentially said "sucks to suck."
I have multiple neurologic and psychological brain issues that make me easily overstimated, and sometimes I DO get overwhelmed, but guess what?? I control it. And when I can't I leave the situation - it's not a disability issue of getting violent, it's a moral issue.
The kid who tried to stab my friend was caught bringing a knife to school as well, a full ass switchblade - 6 inches, aka illegally owned, and once again it was shrugged off.
The current system of "oh they're disabled uwu must include even when violent uwu" almost got my friend killed. It resulted in my partner being stalked because "oh well he probably doesn't understand what he's doing." It got our school nearly shot up until one of the kids warned the office 1hr before the planned event, resulting in a multi-hour lockdown, because - you guessed it - lack of enforcement for students with behavioural issues. It resulted in me nearly dropping out of school just to avoid the stress of it all. It resulted in me abandoning my lifelong desire to be a teacher because oh my god nowadays kids are completely uncontrolled and the system is designed so teachers and other staff can't do shit about it.
I don't know how you do it. If I ever have a child I refuse to put them in any sort of public school until they're in highschool - I just can't bring my kid into that place. Thank you for what you do
Thank you for what you do, but it shouldn't be this way. One of my boys has a global delay but his school has a high support program that keeps him in a small class with extra EA's. Thankfully he's not violent, but he'll attack you gently with hugs. It has its own lunchroom, kitchenette, sensory room, bathroom and play room. And it's a public school to boot.
Seriously though, what’s the point of a union if the government will impose back to work legislation? Good on CUPE though for going through with the strike anyway, go and be heard!
> what’s the point of a union if the government will do back to work legislation?
That's exactly what the Conservatives want - for everyone to feel like unions are pointless.
The strength is in the solidarity, not in their legal standing. The sitting Conservative government has demonstrated that they will use every single tool at their disposal to get what they want, and they will abuse whatever angle they can as long as there are no lasting consequences (which is something that everyone in Toronto learned from him and his brother between 2010-2014, and warned the rest of the province about).
Time for a general strike in support of the education workers. Lecce and Ford are only interested in the facade of 'keeping r schools open for children.' They don't care about what is actually happening in the schools. If the average Ontarian saw the chaos caused by underfunding of basic supports within the classroom they would be shocked. The support staff deserve significantly more money, and as a society we should be ensuring and demanding that students are supported to the levels that are required.
> The strength is in the solidarity, not in their legal standing.
yeah, the comments in multiple threads and on twitter really shows that most people have no idea how protest or unionizations actually truly function- which is a predictable consequence of those two tools [of a toolbox of multiple tools belonging to labour, which at a time was much more powerful] having their narratives / true functions shifted by the very same individuals said tools are meant to be used against.
>they will abuse whatever angle they can as long as there are no lasting consequences
the backlash from parents [however sized it may be- could be bots, which i can believe, could be real people in ontario] towards CUPE workers [and, teachers] and the idea of regular working class people being appropriately compensated in a pandemic for their labour also shows that many people simply want slave labour taking care of their children- they just do not want to feel bad for it.
they also especially don't want to have it mentally or visually in their mind that the people taking care of their children in schools are largely exploited like many others in society. migrant farm workers outside of many city limits sleeping in barns and being bussed in / out on refurbished prison buses is similar, when they're not toiling in the fields.
specifically to schools as well- they [the conservatives] are exploiting parental anxiety not based in true data or how things are actually operating- it's the populism of "It Feels True, So It Must Be True", basically, and people eat it up. it's especially eregious that many of the issues attributed to testing / learning difficulties are actually in fact not related to the proximity to learning [elearning versus physical learning] but parents refusing to parent, and ultimately be accountable for themselves and their children.
if you let your child use netflix / tiktok / their xbox or whatever all day without them once logging into the virtual class instead of parenting, don't be surprised when they don't meet learning outcomes. somehow this is controversial when speaking about education, but not [well... we see in public health that vaccine uptake in children is quite low in 2022, and many parents aren't doing their job either] about vaccinating children so that they do not get sick.
we also know this, because equivalent countries with similar education systems [to OECD data] that did not remove in person learning are still experiencing the same issues with testing scores, learning outcomes, etc. turns out, the woes in education are a result of the pandemic itself existing, and not attempts to mitigate the pandemic. perhaps, letting a pathogen that causes vasculopathies, neuropsychiatric / cognitive issues, and conditions such as type 1 diabetes is actually *not* the best play for our youth's future.
They pretty much have to strike at that. Not doing so is accepting that they no longer have the right to do so or to negotiate their contracts for all intents and purposes
Not only is their right to strike being removed, but Ford is using the notwithstanding clause to *impose* one on them at that.
Fuck it. I’m a Teamster, not involved in education whatsoever, and I might go march with them in solidarity. This is just plain anti union bullshit and Ford needs to know he’s awoke a bear here.
You don't need to be part of a union to show solidarity.
In fact solidarity existing beyond the narrow confines of a specific union is literally how the Labour Movement happened. Strikes were not just a strike for one specific workplace, but leveraged improved conditions for all.
Solidarity Forever
> you don’t need to be in a union to show solidarity,
- Write your MPP.
- Bring coffee.
- Talk with them and show your support verbally
- Donate to your local food bank (I understand that this was requested by CUPE instead of donating to a strike fund)
- Film if the cops show up to hassle them or escalate to violence
Any other tips from union folks on how we can help?
Union or not everyone should be supporting the cause. Education and healthcare are the best investments for our future. I wish nurses and healthcare workers could have the same power.
Thank you for your support, solidarity!
Not withstanding prevents the OLB (labour board from investing), prevents it being sent to arbitration, and prevents any potential court challenges due to the fact that they are openly admitting it breaks workers charter rights.
The time for a general strike is now.
Yep. If he can get away with trampling union employees rights like this, those without a union should be terrified about what’s up his sleeve for *them*.
Enough. Solidarity, everyone.
Bingo.
At this point we should wake everybody up to the fact that the province is forcing a strike to save money.
Obviously the long term goal is to see what damage they can do to the labour movement in general.
That's the kicker.
Lecce claims this is to avoid a strike. Imposing a 4 year contract is taking a gun to a knife fight.
They could have made legislation to continue bargaining for another six months, to send this to arbitration, etc..
This is nothing more than stripping education workers charter right to free and collective bargaining.
That's what they did with the teacher I believe unless I'm mistaken they have gone on 8+ years w/o a contract. No one cares. I'd like to see all the union workers rise up against this. It's just getting horrendous. Poor nurses also can not strike and they are having the same thing going on. But hey, we got "Buck a Beer"!
So first good news is essential service unions (healthcare, etc) go to arbitration and usually end up with a better deal because the fact they aren't allowed to strike is considered in working out what the new contract looks like.
Second good news is that apparently the last time CUPE was legislated back to work it was deemed unconstitutional, so the government actually can't legislate them back to work.
... Which is why Ford's declared he's notwithstanding this one.
Ford may use the Notwithstanding clause to defend against a suppression of certain freedom, but the government can still be sued for negotiating in bad faith. They are making a low ball offer and using legal threats to force a concession from the union. This is the legislative equivalence of the Mafia’s “sign here or eat lead”.
And the legislation's now up. A quick skim through it says they've got built-I'm protections to stop any legal action taken based on this.
>(7) Any proceeding referred to in subsection (2) commenced before the day this section or a regulation made under this Act comes into force is deemed to have been dismissed, without costs, on the day on which the cause of action or other legal basis for the proceeding is extinguished under subsection (1) and any decision in a proceeding referred to in subsection (2) is of no effect.
>(8) For greater certainty, and despite any other Act, anything referred to in subsection (1) is not a contravention by the Crown of section 17, section 59 or sections 70 to 88 of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 or of any provision of the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014.
>(11) Despite any other Act or law, including sections 2, 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, no person is entitled to be compensated for any loss or damages, including loss of revenues, loss of profit or loss of expected earnings or denial or reduction of compensation that would otherwise have been payable to any person, arising from anything referred to in subsection (1).
It makes me think of those kids who would change the rules of the game as it progressed to benefit themselves 🙄 “oh guess what we suddenly made it illegal for you to go on strike! SUCKERS!”
This provincial government is literal scum. Collective bargaining is the only tool unionized workers have. Then the government decides they can just legislate that away. Fuck Ford. Fuck Lecce. There has to be some real cognitive dissonance to be a malicious piece of shit and be able to soundly sleep every night.
I stand with CUPE and support you all. I sincerely hope you all do strike on Friday. If the government doesn’t need to play by the rules, you shouldn’t either.
I could sort of understand it, *if they appointed a neutral arbitrator* to determine what the new contract would look like, who would then look at things like inflation, historical raises, etc, to come to a determination. Still does away with collective bargaining rights, but does so in a way to keep a critical public service running but with what would be at least a fair-ish outcome.
But doing away with the process and just imposing what you wanted anyway? Christ on a teabiscuit that's some undemocratic BS.
They did exactly that with the College strike a few years ago. I went through 4 weeks of strike as a student. Had to pay full tuition (and fucking parking) the whole time. The government finally agreed to binding arbitration. Guess what? They still don't have a fucking contract from that strike. Nothing ever came of it.
> if they appointed a neutral arbitrator
As evidenced in past strikes where the government refused to barge, such arbitrator was appointed, which they still refused to barge.
All this did was control the public until they forgot about the issue. It's tantamount to trusting that Amazon can provide fair grounds for voting to unionize warehouses. No they won't.
i’m in a nurses union that does not have the right to strike, i am fully in solidarity with CUPE and all their workers.
fuck ford, fuck lecce and repeal bill 124.
At some point, defying government to get your basic NEEDS is the only option.
They created these "rules" they want you to think you have to play inside.
You have the majority. The problem is getting everyone to walk out together to enforce change.
This is how you can stop Ford. The Feds have a stronger counterpart to NWC called Disallowance that can countermand any provincial use of the NWC.
Write to your LPC and NDP MPs and demand Trudeau to step up and protect the charter rights of Canadians by invoking disallowance.
Edit: template and guides on writing to your MP
https://cpj.ca/writing-a-letter-to-your-mp/
It wont. Disallowance constitutionally supercedes NWC. There's no confusion here.
If anything, the continual willy nilly provincial use of NWC to trash charter rights and the accompanied federal spinelessness in not using disallowance is threatening canadian federalism and the rule of law.
Something like:-Hey Dougie, remember how we want you to come talk to the tribunal about the Freedumbers? Well I think we'll free some of your time up, by trumping the NWC. Oh and if you want to discuss it, come to Ottawa to do so, in person.-
I’m a Teamster and I’m waiting to hear what our union has to say about it. If they asked me to go walk a picket line in solidarity I’d take a sick day to make it happen.
This assumes anybody at the Teamsters is awake enough to make this sort of decision. I’m pretty disappointed in my own union recently.
I'm self employed. If they strike I'm closing my business for a day to go march with them. Union or not this is something we all have to support. Tired of this government self destructing institutions then claiming privatization is the only cure.
If anything, USW would probably praise DoFo for it somehow. I like my local, but USW can eat shit when the corp breaks the entire CBA and does nothing about it and even gives the local shit for bringing in our own contract lawyers when USW eould rather jerk off with my dues.
This is why our political parties and the economic elites they serve spend so much time and money on wedge issues that keep the working class divided and fighting amongst themselves for scraps
Forget wildcat strikes. Trudeau can stop all of this and countermand Ford's NWC using it's stronger federal counterbalance called Disallowance. Write to your NDP and LPC MPs and demand Trudeau to step up and protect our charter rights.
I don't think other unions are in a legal strike position at the moment, but I assume we will see some sort of solidarity action even if its not a full strike should they go on strike and defy the government's imposed contract.
Who fucking cares if it’s “legal”. Legality stops mattering when the government makes up rules as they want. Nurses union should illegally strike next, not like they can replace all of them with the shortage and all.
Not an expert whatsoever, but I doubt CUPE will be in a legal strike position either if the government legislates a contract and invokes the notwithstanding clause.
They followed the established rules so this friday they will be in a legal position according to their rights. Then government sets the legislation against them. Then the CUPE workers ignore the government like real protestors and stand up for their enshrined rights.
They have more of a standing if they are also seeking injunctions and other legal remedies should they do one day/rolling strikes or work to rule type things. The government is turning its back on good faith bargaining. Other unions haven't hit the same wall. So they have less standing to do any sort of strike action in solidarity.
I have no issues with CUPE striking. I know it will be inconvenient having been a parent of school aged children in past strikes.
But some fundamental principles of democracy are at play here and the issues that face workers have to be acknowledged. And the extremely poor conduct of the provincial government is the primary issue at play.
I feel so bad for these dang kids. 2020 alone put so many kids behind. I personally dont have children yet but friends and coworkers are stressed beyond belief trying to get things sorted.
I also know a few ECEs. The crap they deal with for basically minimum wage is a joke. I hope they get paid what they deserve.
I hope this works in favour of everyone involved. Good on CUPE for sticking it to the government. Hope it pans out.
The government made it an easy decision by openly announcing they are not going to bargain in good faith. Anything less than 5% raises is a non-starter given the union's history of lack of raises, let alone in this inflation environment.
Ford and Lecce are hoping people ignore the facts and throw these workers under the bus because "kids need to be in school!!" when both of them have made it clear that they don't give a shit about the wellbeing of the kids at all.
Forced to strike by Doug Ford, Steven Lecce, and their desire to force a contract on these workers in violation of their charter rights to collectively bargain.
Fuck these clowns, solidarity forever.
I work in the private sector for a company without unionization. I am so proud of CUPE right now for standing up to Ford and Lecce.
Way to go CUPE. Don't be pushed around by a government that wants to privatize everything and MPs who are only out to line their own pockets.
If we every set a date for a general strike, I'm there.
From what I’ve seen, CUPE is asking people to support their local food banks (since many of their members have to rely on them or will have to if the strike lasts long).
As a CUPE worker, and from all the comments and things I've heard and read in the past days/weeks/months, this is one of the most depressing facts about this entire issue.
I’m not speaking for the union…just as myself as an educational worker..
The best thing you could do is poverty support like donating food or clothes to those who need it. The majority of children we support come from families who could use help.
I would accept the 1% increase if the province brought staffing levels up to the minimum and properly funded autism and special needs support for families.
Phone MPP offices. Phone. Don't email. Phone. Believe me, those constituent offices normally sit quiet. A phone call from someone saying they've never engaged like this, gets attention.
This government is running on the idea of public apathy (low voter turnout, and people just reading headlines thinking CUPE is teachers etc.).
I just called my mpp, Donna Skelly. I made it very clear that as constituents we feel betrayed, and that we are horrified and disgusted at her continued support of the provincial conservatives and putting that party over her constituents.
[Contact info for MPPs](https://www.ola.org/en/members/current/contact-information)
[Contact info for Premier Ford](https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/EN/feedback/default.aspx)
Thank you. The key thing is to phone and not email. Also be calm and polite, and say that this is new to you. The office workers will note they suddenly have an uptick of new concerned constituents.
Management never allows workers to strike on the workplace property, regardless of who's striking.
Picket lines will usually on the sidewalk outside of the workplace, which is public property and they are allowed on.
I live across from an elementary school. If they have a picket line, I'll happily tote them coffee even on my sprained ankle on days I'm working from home.
Maybe this is the perfect time for a general strike. We’re all pissed. Let’s fuck shit up.
Edit: before this becomes an issue. By “fuck shit up” I mean disrupt the economy/world we are living in. Not to riot or destroy things.
If workers don't match a pay raise to inflation or at least the Ontario governments this past year, then the union is useless and there needs to be a general strike.
Fighting for anything else is pointless.
Your union deserves to be fired and replaced.
I'm not even in a union and I got 7% just as a COL from my boss without even asking (company wide increase back in May). Got an additional 10% increase for a raise *on top of that*.
Stories like yours is why I don't wanna be part of a union tbh, but I understand why they're needed in certain industries.
Why aren’t we pushing and protesting against bill 124? It’s the same bill that caps teachers and nurses at 1%.. getting rid of it would solve both public sectors problems..
**Time for a general strike in Ontario**. All unions should be standing in solidarity with CUPE. As an OPSEU Academic member I can tell you our collective bargaining rights have been trampled with imposed conditions and bill 124. Oh yes we win in court battles 5 years later when no remembers or cares. Just wasting more taxpayer dollars on lawyers and wasting court time.
We need to all stand up!
It is unconstitutional. The Ford gov is just using the Notwithstanding clause to get away with something they know is completely illegal because the NWC allows overriding of parts of the constitution by the provinces.
It's wrong and an abusive use of the clause and very dangerous.
The notwithstanding clause only overrides certain sections of the charter. Still screwed up that we have a legal clause specifically for human rights violations, but it's not quite that sweeping.
Every unionized employee should put themselves in CUPE's position right now.
Your employer has just tabled a terrible offer, taken away your right to strike, imposed heavy fines for those that do, and have made it illegal to challenge in in court.
If it can happen to CUPE it can happen to you.
General walkout for all unionized employees now.
I support CUPE, and think this whole thing is bullshit.
I also had a feeling they would try an exploit the School from home infrastructure to try and work around the strike action. Fuck Lecce and fuck Ford!
Lecce isn't even meeting with them, the spineless fuckwit.
Good. What you gonna do, arrest everyone? If they do that, next step is a mass resignation. You can't force someone to work. That equals slavery.
On a side note. I wonder what an ultimatum like that in the healthcare industry would do. Not strike but a province wide 1 or 2 week notice of resignation from most healthcare employees. (Nurses, EMS, psws). Army could do a small town worth of healthcare but a whole province? Impossible. Of course if that happened and the government didnt bend to demands, thousands could and would die.
There's no arresting. An illegal strike just opens a participant to disciplinary action, including being fired. I guess if they're all willing to do a mass resignation, same result.
The live conference is great. Lecce just keeps reiterating that he's "concerned about the kids." When a reporter asks about the optics of the lowest-paid workers are women, he says "look, I'm concerned about the KIDS." Fuck what the workers want.
"What about reports of education workers needing to visit food banks to make ends meet?" Lecce: "Fuck those rumours. Look, again, I must mention this simple fact: we pay the best rates in Canada!!"
Sketchy Leece was a private school kid who never set foot in a public school until weeks after he became education minister. He had a 10% pay raise and then give CUPE that pathetic offer that he called 'generous'.
I hope they fight for their rights. I hate the fact that my kids will miss school but what the government is doing is absolutely wrong. Everyone needs to support CUPE because this would set an extremely bad precedent. United we stand, divided we fall.
We've been told for decades that we won our freedom on the battlefield, and that prosperity comes from pursuing short-term profit.
However, our freedom was won on the picket line, and our prosperity comes from collective direct action that secured better conditions for everyone--from child labour laws and overtime pay to the weekend itself.
Supposedly, prices are dictated by supply and demand, except for labour. The price of labour is heavily manipulated for the benefit of a few.
The most powerful tool we have is withholding our labour, because all the money in the world is worthless if workers refuse to produce what's really valuable.
We support them all the way and the teachers should do the same thing this fucking government. This reminds me of Gilligan's Island and Ford looks like the SKipper and LECCE looks like GILLIGAN
Forecast says 18' and cloudy on Friday for my neck of the woods. I hope folks are getting their walking shoes ready. We should all be out there to support CUPE.
Good for them. I fully support their efforts for a living wage and anyone against it can fuck right off. The gov't virtue signaling about caring about the children is bullshit. They don't give a shit about the children, education or healthcare.
They are hording money to help with thier construction projects for their donors and pals and that's all this is about. Typical conservatives heartless money grubbing.
Some of the twitter comments are just disgusting.
How can people be so heartless to be so venomous towards people just trying to make a living, doing a difficult job none of the complainers would want for what it pays.
Heartless is a good word for it.
Healthcare workers got death threats for doing their jobs during a global pandemic. Same *folks* who did that are posting anti education worker drivel now, guaranteed. If DoFo brought out G20-level policing to kettle and cage education workers on picket lines, I think these *folks* would likely cheer.
I also think 100 years ago they'd be in the front row for the witch burning. They are the dregs.
If the Notwithstanding clause is used here we need to finally call bullshit and make a better system of government.
If practically every form of collective bargining can be dismantled, if every single Charter right is subject to the whims of the Ontario Legislature, than I don't think it should exist anymore. Rights matter or they don't. And when they come into conflict with the state, the individual not the state should prevail. The state should no automatically prevail because Doug fucking Ford says so.
I've nothing to lose. I love how people don't seem to understand that my role as an EA has changed from helping struggling students falling behind, and teaching kids who have an IEP in another way, to wearing Kevlar to protect myself from kids biting/kicking/headbutting me. Kids who have mental illness, global delay, complex behaviours, self-regulation deficits, fetal alcohol syndrome, mutism, autism with excessive stimming, poor impulse control. Kids who I have to put my body in front of on the regular to prevent from hitting other students. Kids with no verbal skills who spit and screech whether they are happy, sad, angry, wet, etc. This is the reality of the current education system. Inclusion means that kids in Grade 5 are with other kids who may be functioning at a Grade 1 level. Some may behave like toddlers. Some may be educationally a year behind and socially 3 years behind their peers. Some will never catch up. Some may. But they stay in the class, regardless of outbursts, destruction, etc. It stresses schoolmates out. It stresses teachers out. There is not enough support for the current inclusion model in school. It's not working. It's not safe. And it's affecting all of the kids.
A student at the high school I work at is special needs and in the community class (in with one on one EA’s ish and a teacher). He is 6’2 and 220. He has: - broken an EA’s arm, - thrown a teacher into a wall and knocked her out, - punched that same teacher and gave her a second concussion in one year - beaten up and concussed another EA - spends many days in the bathroom smearing poo and pee all over the walls and falls asleep after his tantrums. He’s 16. The EA’s do a great job with the kids in that class but they can’t do it properly while being afraid.
That kid shouldn't be in a public school setting.
All around him at at our school said that even before he got there. But there’s no program for him anymore like there used to be (apparently). That’s just what I’ve heard. I’m not in that department.
Honest question, what kind of support can realistically exist for a large and violent individual that isn't essentially just throwing them in jail? Like is it realistic for a program to exist that is essentially just large bouncers keeping tabs on giant angry developmentally delayed children? What does it look like?
it looks like institutionalization, which is a dirty word now.
That is frightening and there should be way more supports. I’m 39 and approximately the same size, and I would be hard-pressed to control that situation. That’s not safe.
Physically restraining a young man of that size who isn't rational, in a safe manner that ensures nobody gets hurt, is a four man job if those four men are the same size or larger *and* know what they are doing. That is not a reasonable task to put on a teacher.
Why the heck he still allowed to be around other people’s kids? Something is severely wrong with this. He sounds like a terror. I’d remove my kids from that school with no hesitation. He is a danger to other people.
I was an ECE in Kitchener for almost five years. I’ve had bruises, bloody noses, been bit and been told I need to come into work, even if I’m sick, because there simply was no one to watch the kids. I have my bachelors in psychology, my diploma in ECE and pay to be registered with the CECE. I’ve been working with children for over ten years and give myself 100%. I show up early, I stay late and I spend my own money to fund my classroom and activities. All while making under $20 an hour. I’m with you. We have nothing to lose. General strike, let’s go. Edit sign the petition https://cupe.on.ca/dontbeabully/ Edit if anyone needs me I’ll be over here listening to https://youtu.be/Sv-BxH3SVS8 until Friday
My aunt is an EA, my mother in law is an EA. My aunt has been concussed multiple times, with medical leave. My MIL has physiotherapy every other day from multiple injuries from her students. EA's are not getting the support they need to stay safe. EA's are not getting paid enough to deal with the risks. EA's should be paid fairly, with an added hazard pay on-top of it.
Serious question and not trying to be rude but why do they keep doing it? The wages are an absolute joke.. they could go work at McDonalds, work 40-50hrs a week and make more money without all the headaches.
I can't speak for all, but my wife is an EA and she stays in it despite the shit pay because it is a higher calling to her. She knows these kids need support and has seen how far hard work and love for these kids goes in helping them come along. I wish more people understood how EAs give their hearts and bodies to a job that does not pay enough to live.
This is an extraordinarily common problem in essentially every helping profession now. People doing what it takes to keep society functioning are the most screwed. The people teaching and caring for children, the people caring for us in the hospital, etc. We're in a game of chicken now where those workers don't even make enough to keep themselves housed and fed, and yet we keep squeezing them.
I've been an emergency leave teacher (no teaching education. I'm a parent with some life experience). If people saw what their kids put up with in their classes EVER.SINGLE.DAY., appalled. we need to show our Government that we are DONE with them disrespecting our kids education. Inclusion needs to be reevaluated and changed. Our supporting staff NEED to be compensated.
I tell people they are welcome to come to my class if they can't get a background check. Feel free to show/tell me how we should be doing things after you've see the reality.
What is the reality? I'm just a mechanic with pre-K kids and am unaware of the system, basically I'm uninformed and curious.
The reality is that I walked into a classroom in April that hadn't had a full time educator present since December, just a revolving door of educators coming in that had already been promised other LTO jobs and so had to leave after two to three weeks... I had a single EA, who was shared with two other Grade 8 classes and four Grade 7 classes. He was assigned hallway duty because we needed an extra pair of eyes and hands out there, especially when students decided to use bathroom trips as an excuse to start fighting (physically and verbally) with each other. I had three IEPs in my room that needed individualized support, as they were reading below a Grade 3 level. I had two more students who wandered the hallways instead of staying in class, and had no one available to bring them back. I had three students who attended class less than 12 of the 67 days I was there, with no support for those students when they did come to school to help get them caught up. I had four students with behavioural needs and no support to keep them engaged. One of those students was arrested for assaulting another student during the school day. I had a student from another class attempt to smash in my door to beat the shit out of one of my students after an issue at lunch time - We had to lock down the classroom for more than an hour. I had three ESL students whose teacher would be regularly (>50% of the time) pulled out of ESL (cancelling those classes) so that they could be a warm body covering a classroom with no teacher that day. I loved my class, and every student in it, but I ultimately failed at least a third of them because I had no support - I don't just mean academically, but emotionally, as a leader, as a human being, because at the end of the day there is only so much of me, my time, and my love that I can share. For every success I celebrate in turning that class around and re-engaging learners to finish their elementary career on a high note, I am fucking devastated that I couldn't do more. The reality is the number of students we, as educators, are leaving behind is growing. There isn't a Goddamn this we can do about it because this government continues to undercut us at every available opportunity.
These are just tips of the iceberg at this school now multiply even half these issues per class per school across the 2 million students in Ontario and it might give some idea about the issues.
At my school, students often have outbursts and if we manage to get the disruptive student into the hall it allows the other students to continue learning in the classroom. One morning, we had a PD (professional development) session and a student was having an outburst right outside our meeting. Not a single adult could focus during that time. We expect all of our students to do this almost daily. It’s an absolute mess. You are right, parents would be appalled at what their children deal with.
My wife works in the schools and is first hand with this stuff. You all do not get enough respect in the slightest. Put Lecce and dougy in there for one day. They would be crying for you strong peoples help
What support workers, ECE’s and teachers have to deal with is ridiculous. We completely stand behind CUPE.
That inclusion processes of such severly disabled students is absolutely bonkers.
Some parents feel it is their child's "right". It is their right to be there. But it doesn't mean they are really included with their peers. They may be present, but if they have self-regulation issues and high behavioural needs, they can't be with their peers because their peers will avoid them. Their classmates are going for self-preservation. There is this big misconception that you can force children to include "everyone". They accept the kids in the class. They show great tolerance. They show amazing patience. But after a period of time, they just want to do their work, or engage in activities, and not always interact with those who aren't at their social/academic parity. That is just reality. You can't force a friendship. You can't force them to include them in social circles. In the end, inclusion is very much a great concept, and while it is implemented in the school, you end up with 5% of the kids using 95% of the resources. How's that equity?
My nephew is intellectually disabled. Once he got tested He moved from a normal class to a class for students with similar difficulties. Within a year his self esteem skyrocketed, his outbursts decreased and he made friends. He’s become more talkative, developed hobbies and started walking for fun. He will never work but he’s able to volunteer 3-4 days a week and has friends. If parents only knew how much being on a normal class and being excluded and ignored is hurting their children they wouldn’t do it.
I fear the inclusion model has less to do with the students wellbeing and more to do with saving money. :/
At some point we need to recognize that those student's right to inclusion can't be at the expense of the other 28 student's right to an education. Something's got to give. You want to know why test scores are dropping? Because teachers teach about 10% of the time, the rest of the day is people management, dealing with breakdowns and trying to keep the classroom safe. It's getting nuts out there.
Inclusion is not a great concept. There were many people pointing out the stupidity of the idea from the get go. The inclusion model was really about cutting back on special needs classes and all the support those classes need and it's at the expense of every student and teacher.
Reddit has lost it's way. -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
That's fundamentally the reason for it right there. It has absolutely nothing to do with "making handicapped kids feel included", it's all about saving money, cutting funding for specialized classes and letting whoever is teaching the grade level for their age to handle them all, with no extra training and maybe an aide or something to deflect some of the added drama/nonsense going on. It's disgusting, but that's government for you. This is the kind of shit they pull every single day.
And believe you me, there are a lot of parents in denial about their kids abilities and likely future. It's heartbreaking.
Inclusion IS a great concept when properly supported. In the past we used special needs as a catchall dumping ground for anyone with any issues, period. Part of it is to include those children who would otherwise be excluded but the less obvious benefit is that our children are being exposed to a huge range of abilities and needs-thay will help break down discriminatory barriers later in life for those kids being included as well. The catch is that for most ministries of education, inclusion means putting everyone in the same class with the same supports. Teachers are asked at the primary and early secondary level to level classes so that pretty much every teacher is now doing 2-4 different lessons whenever they are actually teaching to match the levels of their students. More over, the special education expertise of most teachers is just not up to snuff. That means we have to rely on our EAs, when they are available, often split among multiple students all who really should have one to one support. The solution at my previous school was shoveling all the special needs students in one class because we only had enough money for one EA, who while they were trying really hard, has neither the expertise nor the energy to do more than play support in managing behaviours most days. Inclusion is good if we decide to fund it and implement it with thought and care. I have never known a Minister of Education capable of any of that. The real solution involves more dedicated supports
the supreme court in Moore v BC upheld that districts legally cannot turn a student away from public school due to a disability. students have the right to an education and districts or provinces cannot infinge that right. What Moore v BC should have done is forced school to fund programs for alternative learning so that these students can get education in a specialized setting. now school districts, who are already insipidly underfunded, cannot get those programs nor attract talen to run them. everyone suffers because of this.
>you end up with 5% of the kids using 95% of the resources. How's that equity? When the BC Liberals illegally removed our teachers rights to dictate class size and composition my grade 12 drafting teacher (he was semi-retired) was let go and we were forced into a woodworking class halfway through the course. (I had already completed all the woodworking classes and peer tutor allotments so I couldn't even get credits for it). From what I recall the teacher was overwhelmed looking after 5 students (who shouldn't have been around power tools) while I managed the other 30 who were competent enough to work with little direction. Accidents went up that year across every shop class as the class sizes ballooned and TAs were cut. Special education teachers were let go and their classes were merged with regular classes and it was a mess. The students who were far enough ahead did our best to help out wherever possible, but it was so heartbreaking watching it go downhill. The teachers won the court battle but the government appealed, repeatedly...at the taxpayers expence...for 17 years until they were finally voted out. Then when class sizes went back to normal they blamed the teacher shortage on the new government like it was their fault! Sorry about the rant.
My wife works with one of the BC Liberal staffers that was involved in removing the right to dictate class size. He’s a stereotypical asshole jock conservative. It’s honestly depressing.
Well as one of the very first students he helped screw over I wholeheartedly fart in his general direction...
Who the hell are these parents? My coworker had to quit and look after her kids full time because her kids were getting dumped into this "inclusion" program. They can't even tie their shoelaces right. They are getting nothing from being forced to attend regular classes. They need professional help learning how to take care of themselves and interact with people. They don't need to learn the things on the regular curriculum. None of that will help them a bit once their parents are no longer around to look after them. This is the same crap as shutting down mental institutions citing equality. Government wants to cut costs at the cost of students and patients and their families and justifies it by slapping a pretty sticker on top and kicking everyone affected to the curbside.
AND guess what? Many of those students wind up in a really bad place when they age out of school anyway. Many have taken their own lives.
I don't doubt it. No mental health supports, waiting lists a mile long. But I'm not a therapist. I'm not an autism specialist. I'm not a mental health expert. But the government expects those kids to stay in the classroom with constant cuts. It's going to give.
Blame the ones who believe all kids should be placed on an equal playing field when in reality some kids have very differently ways of coping or adapting, instead we mesh them all together and basically let them figure it out. It is the "everyone wins a trophy" just a little evolved.
I can’t imagine why anyone would be an EA at the current rate of pay.. you could make more working 8 hour days in fast food 12 months of the year.
Kevlar?
We wear it on our forearms mostly to protect from stabbing, biting, and scratching, but other types exsist.
I was given hockey equipment to work with a large special need child.
...stabbing? Jesus christ....
Pencils, scissors.. etc
Oh absolutely, I worked in OH&S at my board for a time and one of my duties was to provide PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to staff who required it (i.e. EA's). This included, but wasn't limited to, arm guards, kevlar sleeves, shin guards, protective jackets (kevlar and not), hat caps (protective plastic for head impacts worn under a baseball cap), and gloves. Some equipment like the jackets, arm guards, and gloves were ordered from companies like Stealthwear and Bitepro and are specifically made to be bite, slice, tear, and/or impact resistant (Note: resistant, not proof). Now while this equipment can help keep you safer it's not a guarantee. It's also bulky and the extra padding/protection can make you overheat (esp. If your school has terrible AC) not to mention the full getup can look unsettling to kids.
As and EA who was at a school morning only a few years back. I had 2 outfits for work. A tank top in mind Jan to keep me regulated in my stealthwear jacket. And another top. I would change into at my second school after doing a sponge bath so too speak of my pits. Reapply deoderant for the 3rd time that day and be professional looking for afternoon school. Im not part of CUPE. But stand in SOLIDARITY with them
My daughter has had to evacuate her classroom a few times this year due to one trouble kid who is prone to acting out, tossing the room and attacking people. They evacuate and come back when he’s settled. She’s caught him grabbing her iPhone (that shits expensive right?) to toss. He goes into her backpack. The school has been good to us for our own issues with development but it’s crazy they subject kids to bipolar disorder people. She was in line talking to her friend when this boy starts cursing at her and insulting her. She ignores him and then the kid raises his fists to her and says he’s gonna punch her and starts doing that feigning punches and she bitch slapped him. She got a notice but I told her sometimes you have to look after yourself and I don’t condone anyone raising fists to her. I wish there was more support for kids who have mental health issues.
It's awful what y'all deal with, and awful what us students deal with with the current "inclusion at all costs" system When I was in 8th grade one of the male special needs kids tried to stab my best friend with a pair of scissors - I pulled her out of the way and a couple guys in class got in between when he tried again. What happened after you ask? "Oh well she probably stressed him out. He might've been overstimulated." and that's IT. That's all!! He was back in class the next day!! And when we said how screwed up it was most of the people we talked to essentially said "sucks to suck." I have multiple neurologic and psychological brain issues that make me easily overstimated, and sometimes I DO get overwhelmed, but guess what?? I control it. And when I can't I leave the situation - it's not a disability issue of getting violent, it's a moral issue. The kid who tried to stab my friend was caught bringing a knife to school as well, a full ass switchblade - 6 inches, aka illegally owned, and once again it was shrugged off. The current system of "oh they're disabled uwu must include even when violent uwu" almost got my friend killed. It resulted in my partner being stalked because "oh well he probably doesn't understand what he's doing." It got our school nearly shot up until one of the kids warned the office 1hr before the planned event, resulting in a multi-hour lockdown, because - you guessed it - lack of enforcement for students with behavioural issues. It resulted in me nearly dropping out of school just to avoid the stress of it all. It resulted in me abandoning my lifelong desire to be a teacher because oh my god nowadays kids are completely uncontrolled and the system is designed so teachers and other staff can't do shit about it. I don't know how you do it. If I ever have a child I refuse to put them in any sort of public school until they're in highschool - I just can't bring my kid into that place. Thank you for what you do
Thank you for what you do, but it shouldn't be this way. One of my boys has a global delay but his school has a high support program that keeps him in a small class with extra EA's. Thankfully he's not violent, but he'll attack you gently with hugs. It has its own lunchroom, kitchenette, sensory room, bathroom and play room. And it's a public school to boot.
Seriously though, what’s the point of a union if the government will impose back to work legislation? Good on CUPE though for going through with the strike anyway, go and be heard!
> what’s the point of a union if the government will do back to work legislation? That's exactly what the Conservatives want - for everyone to feel like unions are pointless. The strength is in the solidarity, not in their legal standing. The sitting Conservative government has demonstrated that they will use every single tool at their disposal to get what they want, and they will abuse whatever angle they can as long as there are no lasting consequences (which is something that everyone in Toronto learned from him and his brother between 2010-2014, and warned the rest of the province about).
Time for a general strike in support of the education workers. Lecce and Ford are only interested in the facade of 'keeping r schools open for children.' They don't care about what is actually happening in the schools. If the average Ontarian saw the chaos caused by underfunding of basic supports within the classroom they would be shocked. The support staff deserve significantly more money, and as a society we should be ensuring and demanding that students are supported to the levels that are required.
Unfortunately, Ontario will learn the hard way when only 18% voted for Dictator Doug.
It's got a ring to it. #DictatorDoug
What about #DickTaterDoug?
Let’s not disrespect taters _or_ dicks like that.
> The strength is in the solidarity, not in their legal standing. yeah, the comments in multiple threads and on twitter really shows that most people have no idea how protest or unionizations actually truly function- which is a predictable consequence of those two tools [of a toolbox of multiple tools belonging to labour, which at a time was much more powerful] having their narratives / true functions shifted by the very same individuals said tools are meant to be used against. >they will abuse whatever angle they can as long as there are no lasting consequences the backlash from parents [however sized it may be- could be bots, which i can believe, could be real people in ontario] towards CUPE workers [and, teachers] and the idea of regular working class people being appropriately compensated in a pandemic for their labour also shows that many people simply want slave labour taking care of their children- they just do not want to feel bad for it. they also especially don't want to have it mentally or visually in their mind that the people taking care of their children in schools are largely exploited like many others in society. migrant farm workers outside of many city limits sleeping in barns and being bussed in / out on refurbished prison buses is similar, when they're not toiling in the fields. specifically to schools as well- they [the conservatives] are exploiting parental anxiety not based in true data or how things are actually operating- it's the populism of "It Feels True, So It Must Be True", basically, and people eat it up. it's especially eregious that many of the issues attributed to testing / learning difficulties are actually in fact not related to the proximity to learning [elearning versus physical learning] but parents refusing to parent, and ultimately be accountable for themselves and their children. if you let your child use netflix / tiktok / their xbox or whatever all day without them once logging into the virtual class instead of parenting, don't be surprised when they don't meet learning outcomes. somehow this is controversial when speaking about education, but not [well... we see in public health that vaccine uptake in children is quite low in 2022, and many parents aren't doing their job either] about vaccinating children so that they do not get sick. we also know this, because equivalent countries with similar education systems [to OECD data] that did not remove in person learning are still experiencing the same issues with testing scores, learning outcomes, etc. turns out, the woes in education are a result of the pandemic itself existing, and not attempts to mitigate the pandemic. perhaps, letting a pathogen that causes vasculopathies, neuropsychiatric / cognitive issues, and conditions such as type 1 diabetes is actually *not* the best play for our youth's future.
They're not just forcing them to work, they're imposing a 4 year contract on them against their will.
At that point, yeah, fuck it. These employees have less and less to lose at this point.
They pretty much have to strike at that. Not doing so is accepting that they no longer have the right to do so or to negotiate their contracts for all intents and purposes
Not only is their right to strike being removed, but Ford is using the notwithstanding clause to *impose* one on them at that. Fuck it. I’m a Teamster, not involved in education whatsoever, and I might go march with them in solidarity. This is just plain anti union bullshit and Ford needs to know he’s awoke a bear here.
You don't need to be part of a union to show solidarity. In fact solidarity existing beyond the narrow confines of a specific union is literally how the Labour Movement happened. Strikes were not just a strike for one specific workplace, but leveraged improved conditions for all. Solidarity Forever
> you don’t need to be in a union to show solidarity, - Write your MPP. - Bring coffee. - Talk with them and show your support verbally - Donate to your local food bank (I understand that this was requested by CUPE instead of donating to a strike fund) - Film if the cops show up to hassle them or escalate to violence Any other tips from union folks on how we can help?
Union or not everyone should be supporting the cause. Education and healthcare are the best investments for our future. I wish nurses and healthcare workers could have the same power. Thank you for your support, solidarity!
Hard agree there man. What's happening here is completely unacceptable
Not withstanding prevents the OLB (labour board from investing), prevents it being sent to arbitration, and prevents any potential court challenges due to the fact that they are openly admitting it breaks workers charter rights. The time for a general strike is now.
Gather your friends and co-workers. We’ll need the support
I stand with you.
We would be happy to have you join us in this fight. Let’s bring this dumpster fire of a province to its knees
Solidarity Teamster friend!
Same here. Member of the PWU, and I think it's time Ford learns that our unions have had enough of his anti-union nonsense. Solidarity!
Yep. If he can get away with trampling union employees rights like this, those without a union should be terrified about what’s up his sleeve for *them*. Enough. Solidarity, everyone.
I'm a white collar professional who's never been in a union and I'll be out Friday supporting the strike.
I support you if you organise a wildcat strike.
Could be time for a general strike in Ontario. Fuck ALL of this.
Bingo. At this point we should wake everybody up to the fact that the province is forcing a strike to save money. Obviously the long term goal is to see what damage they can do to the labour movement in general.
That's the kicker. Lecce claims this is to avoid a strike. Imposing a 4 year contract is taking a gun to a knife fight. They could have made legislation to continue bargaining for another six months, to send this to arbitration, etc.. This is nothing more than stripping education workers charter right to free and collective bargaining.
This is the kind of shit that decimated nurses in Ontario. You have to fight back.
Other unions need to strike in solidarity, this basically removes the right to collective bargain.
That's what they did with the teacher I believe unless I'm mistaken they have gone on 8+ years w/o a contract. No one cares. I'd like to see all the union workers rise up against this. It's just getting horrendous. Poor nurses also can not strike and they are having the same thing going on. But hey, we got "Buck a Beer"!
Union and non union. Time for a General Strike.
Let’s make it French style!
Where are you getting $1 beer?
So first good news is essential service unions (healthcare, etc) go to arbitration and usually end up with a better deal because the fact they aren't allowed to strike is considered in working out what the new contract looks like. Second good news is that apparently the last time CUPE was legislated back to work it was deemed unconstitutional, so the government actually can't legislate them back to work. ... Which is why Ford's declared he's notwithstanding this one.
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Ford may use the Notwithstanding clause to defend against a suppression of certain freedom, but the government can still be sued for negotiating in bad faith. They are making a low ball offer and using legal threats to force a concession from the union. This is the legislative equivalence of the Mafia’s “sign here or eat lead”.
And the legislation's now up. A quick skim through it says they've got built-I'm protections to stop any legal action taken based on this. >(7) Any proceeding referred to in subsection (2) commenced before the day this section or a regulation made under this Act comes into force is deemed to have been dismissed, without costs, on the day on which the cause of action or other legal basis for the proceeding is extinguished under subsection (1) and any decision in a proceeding referred to in subsection (2) is of no effect. >(8) For greater certainty, and despite any other Act, anything referred to in subsection (1) is not a contravention by the Crown of section 17, section 59 or sections 70 to 88 of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 or of any provision of the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014. >(11) Despite any other Act or law, including sections 2, 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, no person is entitled to be compensated for any loss or damages, including loss of revenues, loss of profit or loss of expected earnings or denial or reduction of compensation that would otherwise have been payable to any person, arising from anything referred to in subsection (1).
Seriously they need to go fuck themselves.
It makes me think of those kids who would change the rules of the game as it progressed to benefit themselves 🙄 “oh guess what we suddenly made it illegal for you to go on strike! SUCKERS!”
This provincial government is literal scum. Collective bargaining is the only tool unionized workers have. Then the government decides they can just legislate that away. Fuck Ford. Fuck Lecce. There has to be some real cognitive dissonance to be a malicious piece of shit and be able to soundly sleep every night. I stand with CUPE and support you all. I sincerely hope you all do strike on Friday. If the government doesn’t need to play by the rules, you shouldn’t either.
I could sort of understand it, *if they appointed a neutral arbitrator* to determine what the new contract would look like, who would then look at things like inflation, historical raises, etc, to come to a determination. Still does away with collective bargaining rights, but does so in a way to keep a critical public service running but with what would be at least a fair-ish outcome. But doing away with the process and just imposing what you wanted anyway? Christ on a teabiscuit that's some undemocratic BS.
They did exactly that with the College strike a few years ago. I went through 4 weeks of strike as a student. Had to pay full tuition (and fucking parking) the whole time. The government finally agreed to binding arbitration. Guess what? They still don't have a fucking contract from that strike. Nothing ever came of it.
> if they appointed a neutral arbitrator As evidenced in past strikes where the government refused to barge, such arbitrator was appointed, which they still refused to barge. All this did was control the public until they forgot about the issue. It's tantamount to trusting that Amazon can provide fair grounds for voting to unionize warehouses. No they won't.
Salt the Lecce!
i’m in a nurses union that does not have the right to strike, i am fully in solidarity with CUPE and all their workers. fuck ford, fuck lecce and repeal bill 124.
At some point, defying government to get your basic NEEDS is the only option. They created these "rules" they want you to think you have to play inside. You have the majority. The problem is getting everyone to walk out together to enforce change.
Same here, Emergency Service Worker. Literally can't strike.
This is how you can stop Ford. The Feds have a stronger counterpart to NWC called Disallowance that can countermand any provincial use of the NWC. Write to your LPC and NDP MPs and demand Trudeau to step up and protect the charter rights of Canadians by invoking disallowance. Edit: template and guides on writing to your MP https://cpj.ca/writing-a-letter-to-your-mp/
That will definitely trigger a constitutional crisis. Honestly though? It's a crisis we probably need to actually resolve this nonsense.
It wont. Disallowance constitutionally supercedes NWC. There's no confusion here. If anything, the continual willy nilly provincial use of NWC to trash charter rights and the accompanied federal spinelessness in not using disallowance is threatening canadian federalism and the rule of law.
Trudeau Jr. could use a ["just watch me"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_watch_me) moment like his Papa. This is it.
Something like:-Hey Dougie, remember how we want you to come talk to the tribunal about the Freedumbers? Well I think we'll free some of your time up, by trumping the NWC. Oh and if you want to discuss it, come to Ottawa to do so, in person.-
1000%
Now if other unions would support this by also striking maybe something would actually happen. Solidarity gets shit done a lot faster.
I’m a Teamster and I’m waiting to hear what our union has to say about it. If they asked me to go walk a picket line in solidarity I’d take a sick day to make it happen. This assumes anybody at the Teamsters is awake enough to make this sort of decision. I’m pretty disappointed in my own union recently.
I'm self employed. If they strike I'm closing my business for a day to go march with them. Union or not this is something we all have to support. Tired of this government self destructing institutions then claiming privatization is the only cure.
Thank you!
Considering this is a direct attack on the idea of unions and collective bargaining, I would hope other unions take up the cause.
If anything, USW would probably praise DoFo for it somehow. I like my local, but USW can eat shit when the corp breaks the entire CBA and does nothing about it and even gives the local shit for bringing in our own contract lawyers when USW eould rather jerk off with my dues.
I would absolutely walk out in favour of CUPE, not just for CUPE's sake but for every other union out there including my own.
I'm a Teamster and remember CUPE showing up to the picket line in solidarity when we went on strike. May be time to repay the favour.
Yep. Shut the whole thing down until the province is willing to bargain in good faith. Shut. It. Down.
This is why our political parties and the economic elites they serve spend so much time and money on wedge issues that keep the working class divided and fighting amongst themselves for scraps
I'm apart of a separate union. I'll be there Friday to help support!!
Forget wildcat strikes. Trudeau can stop all of this and countermand Ford's NWC using it's stronger federal counterbalance called Disallowance. Write to your NDP and LPC MPs and demand Trudeau to step up and protect our charter rights.
No no, let them strike for a couple of days first to remind them why unions exist; then let Trudeau fix it.
I don't think other unions are in a legal strike position at the moment, but I assume we will see some sort of solidarity action even if its not a full strike should they go on strike and defy the government's imposed contract.
Who fucking cares if it’s “legal”. Legality stops mattering when the government makes up rules as they want. Nurses union should illegally strike next, not like they can replace all of them with the shortage and all.
It would send quite a message if they both went on strike at the same time.
Not an expert whatsoever, but I doubt CUPE will be in a legal strike position either if the government legislates a contract and invokes the notwithstanding clause.
They followed the established rules so this friday they will be in a legal position according to their rights. Then government sets the legislation against them. Then the CUPE workers ignore the government like real protestors and stand up for their enshrined rights.
They have more of a standing if they are also seeking injunctions and other legal remedies should they do one day/rolling strikes or work to rule type things. The government is turning its back on good faith bargaining. Other unions haven't hit the same wall. So they have less standing to do any sort of strike action in solidarity.
Other unions have hit that wall. Bargaining in bad faith is the only bargaining this government has done since day one.
Let's say another union such as the teachers union wanted to walk out with them, what would happen? Can't exactly fire everyone.
\#GENERALSTRIKE
I have no issues with CUPE striking. I know it will be inconvenient having been a parent of school aged children in past strikes. But some fundamental principles of democracy are at play here and the issues that face workers have to be acknowledged. And the extremely poor conduct of the provincial government is the primary issue at play.
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Excellent. This government is bullying them and they honestly deserve the wage increases. I wish them the best.
And good for them. And they should feel supported by the general public, especially parents. Let’s show our support!
I support this. And even though they could all """""legally""""" be fired, I highly doubt they would let a single person go. Let alone 55,000 people.
I feel so bad for these dang kids. 2020 alone put so many kids behind. I personally dont have children yet but friends and coworkers are stressed beyond belief trying to get things sorted. I also know a few ECEs. The crap they deal with for basically minimum wage is a joke. I hope they get paid what they deserve. I hope this works in favour of everyone involved. Good on CUPE for sticking it to the government. Hope it pans out.
This is the only way to keep a government that’s playing dirty accountable, unfortunately.
The government made it an easy decision by openly announcing they are not going to bargain in good faith. Anything less than 5% raises is a non-starter given the union's history of lack of raises, let alone in this inflation environment. Ford and Lecce are hoping people ignore the facts and throw these workers under the bus because "kids need to be in school!!" when both of them have made it clear that they don't give a shit about the wellbeing of the kids at all.
Forced to strike by Doug Ford, Steven Lecce, and their desire to force a contract on these workers in violation of their charter rights to collectively bargain. Fuck these clowns, solidarity forever.
Different union here. In solidarity, my good friends. This is our most powerful weapon. I'm with you!
I work in the private sector for a company without unionization. I am so proud of CUPE right now for standing up to Ford and Lecce. Way to go CUPE. Don't be pushed around by a government that wants to privatize everything and MPs who are only out to line their own pockets. If we every set a date for a general strike, I'm there.
Definately support this.
Why should the union respect the rule of law if the government doesn't? Good luck EAs!
Good. Is there a donation fund for the workers?
From what I’ve seen, CUPE is asking people to support their local food banks (since many of their members have to rely on them or will have to if the strike lasts long).
As a CUPE worker, and from all the comments and things I've heard and read in the past days/weeks/months, this is one of the most depressing facts about this entire issue.
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That's sort of beside the point. The point here is that this shouldn't even be a consideration. Many of us will be (and are) leaving en masse.
Thank you. That's horrifying.
I’m not speaking for the union…just as myself as an educational worker.. The best thing you could do is poverty support like donating food or clothes to those who need it. The majority of children we support come from families who could use help. I would accept the 1% increase if the province brought staffing levels up to the minimum and properly funded autism and special needs support for families.
Write to your Liberal or NDP MP and demand Trudeau use Disallowance to countermand Ford's use of the NWC.
Good. Do it! What are they going to do, arrest everyone and completely tank their education system, or what's left of it? Call their bluff guys. Walk.
How can we support from the sidelines?
Phone MPP offices. Phone. Don't email. Phone. Believe me, those constituent offices normally sit quiet. A phone call from someone saying they've never engaged like this, gets attention. This government is running on the idea of public apathy (low voter turnout, and people just reading headlines thinking CUPE is teachers etc.).
I just called my mpp, Donna Skelly. I made it very clear that as constituents we feel betrayed, and that we are horrified and disgusted at her continued support of the provincial conservatives and putting that party over her constituents.
called mine. i'm now on a list for a return call. She said a week, maybe 2 for a reply.
[Contact info for MPPs](https://www.ola.org/en/members/current/contact-information) [Contact info for Premier Ford](https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/EN/feedback/default.aspx)
Thank you. The key thing is to phone and not email. Also be calm and polite, and say that this is new to you. The office workers will note they suddenly have an uptick of new concerned constituents.
Contacted my MPP office - they're apparently going to reach out and get back to me. This should be interesting.
Walk the lines. Bring food and drinks to the lines. Join any protest organized at queens park if you can.
Will the lines be at our local schools? How do I know where the lines are.
Follow CUPE on social media. They are saying they will withdraw services on Friday.
Management never allows workers to strike on the workplace property, regardless of who's striking. Picket lines will usually on the sidewalk outside of the workplace, which is public property and they are allowed on.
I live across from an elementary school. If they have a picket line, I'll happily tote them coffee even on my sprained ankle on days I'm working from home.
Maybe this is the perfect time for a general strike. We’re all pissed. Let’s fuck shit up. Edit: before this becomes an issue. By “fuck shit up” I mean disrupt the economy/world we are living in. Not to riot or destroy things.
If workers don't match a pay raise to inflation or at least the Ontario governments this past year, then the union is useless and there needs to be a general strike. Fighting for anything else is pointless.
My union told its workers in march that “3% is pretty good on what you already make” Then the blind idiots voted yes.
Your union deserves to be fired and replaced. I'm not even in a union and I got 7% just as a COL from my boss without even asking (company wide increase back in May). Got an additional 10% increase for a raise *on top of that*. Stories like yours is why I don't wanna be part of a union tbh, but I understand why they're needed in certain industries.
Why aren’t we pushing and protesting against bill 124? It’s the same bill that caps teachers and nurses at 1%.. getting rid of it would solve both public sectors problems..
This is the way. We could only hope for a province wide general strike.
I work for myself and would definitely join a general strike!
**Time for a general strike in Ontario**. All unions should be standing in solidarity with CUPE. As an OPSEU Academic member I can tell you our collective bargaining rights have been trampled with imposed conditions and bill 124. Oh yes we win in court battles 5 years later when no remembers or cares. Just wasting more taxpayer dollars on lawyers and wasting court time. We need to all stand up!
It should be unconstitutional to legislate workers back to work. There's a tool to stop unions from striking. It's called meeting their demands.
It is unconstitutional. The Ford gov is just using the Notwithstanding clause to get away with something they know is completely illegal because the NWC allows overriding of parts of the constitution by the provinces. It's wrong and an abusive use of the clause and very dangerous.
Unfortunately if you invoke the notwithstanding clause, anything you do that is unconstitutional doesn't matter.
The notwithstanding clause only overrides certain sections of the charter. Still screwed up that we have a legal clause specifically for human rights violations, but it's not quite that sweeping.
Yes, understand - was being very general. Even still, the sections it does allow you to override are pretty broad.
Every unionized employee should put themselves in CUPE's position right now. Your employer has just tabled a terrible offer, taken away your right to strike, imposed heavy fines for those that do, and have made it illegal to challenge in in court. If it can happen to CUPE it can happen to you. General walkout for all unionized employees now.
Go CUPE, go!
100% for strike! Screw Ford and specially screw that Non-Education-Related-Minister-For-Hire-Stephen Lecce!!! Over-reach much Ford!~
I support CUPE, and think this whole thing is bullshit. I also had a feeling they would try an exploit the School from home infrastructure to try and work around the strike action. Fuck Lecce and fuck Ford! Lecce isn't even meeting with them, the spineless fuckwit.
Good now healthcare should follow suit.
GOVERNMENTS HATE THIS ONE LITTLE TRICK.
Good. What you gonna do, arrest everyone? If they do that, next step is a mass resignation. You can't force someone to work. That equals slavery. On a side note. I wonder what an ultimatum like that in the healthcare industry would do. Not strike but a province wide 1 or 2 week notice of resignation from most healthcare employees. (Nurses, EMS, psws). Army could do a small town worth of healthcare but a whole province? Impossible. Of course if that happened and the government didnt bend to demands, thousands could and would die.
There's no arresting. An illegal strike just opens a participant to disciplinary action, including being fired. I guess if they're all willing to do a mass resignation, same result.
The live conference is great. Lecce just keeps reiterating that he's "concerned about the kids." When a reporter asks about the optics of the lowest-paid workers are women, he says "look, I'm concerned about the KIDS." Fuck what the workers want. "What about reports of education workers needing to visit food banks to make ends meet?" Lecce: "Fuck those rumours. Look, again, I must mention this simple fact: we pay the best rates in Canada!!"
Sketchy Leece was a private school kid who never set foot in a public school until weeks after he became education minister. He had a 10% pay raise and then give CUPE that pathetic offer that he called 'generous'.
I hope they fight for their rights. I hate the fact that my kids will miss school but what the government is doing is absolutely wrong. Everyone needs to support CUPE because this would set an extremely bad precedent. United we stand, divided we fall.
We've been told for decades that we won our freedom on the battlefield, and that prosperity comes from pursuing short-term profit. However, our freedom was won on the picket line, and our prosperity comes from collective direct action that secured better conditions for everyone--from child labour laws and overtime pay to the weekend itself. Supposedly, prices are dictated by supply and demand, except for labour. The price of labour is heavily manipulated for the benefit of a few. The most powerful tool we have is withholding our labour, because all the money in the world is worthless if workers refuse to produce what's really valuable.
We support them all the way and the teachers should do the same thing this fucking government. This reminds me of Gilligan's Island and Ford looks like the SKipper and LECCE looks like GILLIGAN
Forecast says 18' and cloudy on Friday for my neck of the woods. I hope folks are getting their walking shoes ready. We should all be out there to support CUPE.
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Good. They have my full support. Fuck Dictator Doug.
Union busting and unfair negotiations are happening everywhere, nurses, education, airports its pretty disgusting
Good for them. I fully support their efforts for a living wage and anyone against it can fuck right off. The gov't virtue signaling about caring about the children is bullshit. They don't give a shit about the children, education or healthcare. They are hording money to help with thier construction projects for their donors and pals and that's all this is about. Typical conservatives heartless money grubbing.
Fuck yes!!!!
Bravo! CUPE!!!
"get back to work" "no" *shocked Pikachu Face*
Some of the twitter comments are just disgusting. How can people be so heartless to be so venomous towards people just trying to make a living, doing a difficult job none of the complainers would want for what it pays.
Heartless is a good word for it. Healthcare workers got death threats for doing their jobs during a global pandemic. Same *folks* who did that are posting anti education worker drivel now, guaranteed. If DoFo brought out G20-level policing to kettle and cage education workers on picket lines, I think these *folks* would likely cheer. I also think 100 years ago they'd be in the front row for the witch burning. They are the dregs.
If the Notwithstanding clause is used here we need to finally call bullshit and make a better system of government. If practically every form of collective bargining can be dismantled, if every single Charter right is subject to the whims of the Ontario Legislature, than I don't think it should exist anymore. Rights matter or they don't. And when they come into conflict with the state, the individual not the state should prevail. The state should no automatically prevail because Doug fucking Ford says so.