The Canadian Union of Public Employees — which represents 55,000 workers, including kindergarten teachers, school staff, bus drivers and custodians — shared a summary of its bargaining proposals Tuesday as negotiations continue ahead of existing contracts expiring at the end of this month.
	The union argued that workers’ wages have been constrained over the past decade and noted that inflation is expected to rise further.  Public sector workers’ wages have been capped at one per cent a year in recent years due to a controversial government bill.
	CUPE said the average wage for permanent employees is currently $27.87, and the president of the Ontario Council of School Boards Unions said moves to cut education funding from the government and school boards have “put many teachers on the brink of poverty”.
	“Students and staff deserve better than the crumbs this government throws our way, so my colleagues and I are willing to fight for what students need in the classroom and what we need to do our jobs even better.” , he said in a written statement.  .
	Other education unions in the process of negotiating new contracts with the provincial government have also said they plan to argue for bigger raises to keep up with the rising cost of living.
	Statistics Canada reported the annual inflation rate for June was 8.1 per cent, the biggest increase since 1983.
	The president of the Ontario Federation of Secondary Teachers told The Canadian Press last month that her union is seeking a pay increase that will keep pace with inflation and not be limited by legislation.
	Premier Doug Ford has said teachers will get a raise of more than one per cent in their new contracts, but has not set an exact amount.
	Other bargaining proposals from CUPE include issues of minimum weekly working hours for full-time staff and minimum standards for holidays and leaves of absence, as well as funding to extend benefits to more workers. 
	Education Minister Steven Lecce’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the proposed CUPE wage increase. 
	Negotiations were fraught during the negotiation phase three years ago, when teachers took action at various points. 
	Lecce and Ford both stressed early in this negotiation period that they do not want such work stoppages to happen again. 
	This report by The Canadian Press was first published on August 2, 2022.