As I write this, it is Day 3 of the Education Assistants’ strike. These employees are represented by CUPE 4222 in this board, however, since these members work closely with many of our OSSTF members, this strike impacts on both our members and many of the students with whom we work. As such, I am asking each and every member to support the EA’s in whatever way they can. There are two very critical ways in which you can do this.

The most important thing that all OSSTF members can do to support our CUPE colleagues is NOT to voluntarily do ANY work that is normally and regularly performed by an EA. There is a description of those duties in a document on our district website on a special page set up to get information to OSSTF members.

The second and also very important thing you can do is to take every opportunity to walk with the CUPE members when they are picketing at your location. I have asked the Branch Presidents of the Teachers’ Bargaining Unit to speak with the CUPE picket captains to find out which days their site is being picketed and then to organize a schedule for teachers to join them so that there is an OSSTF presence on the line before and after school and during lunch on those days.

Additionally, OSSTF has produced a document with information regarding correct strike protocol for when other units are on strike. This might have been distributed to each member either back in February when there was the possibility of a CUPE walkout over Bill 206 (the OMERS pension legislation), or perhaps in the last two weeks. At the very least, it should be posted on the OSSTF bulletin board at your work location. It can also be downloaded from our website from the same page cited in paragraph two.

Many of us are wearing ribbons in support of the EA’s. The ribbons are navy and pink. Branch Presidents who wish to organize a purchase of ribbons for the OSSTF members at their branch, are certainly encouraged to do so.

Finally, other local unions are also joining the picketers and making donations to this unit. The London & District Labour Council will be organizing a rally in support of the EA’s very soon. When we know when it is, we will let you know so that you can plan to attend the rally in support of the EA’s.

It is very important for us to support our colleagues in other employee groups. Certainly, when OSSTF teacher members, along with the members of the other teachers’ federations, engaged in our Political Protest in 1997, from October 27 until November 7, we had strong support from our brother/sister public sector unions. I remember well that our CUPE colleagues walked with us whenever they could and that they brought us coffee, water, donuts and other treats. All of these gestures showed that they too cared for us as colleagues and respected our issues. I very much hope that each and every one of you will show the same support and respect for our Education Assistants.