The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is condemning vandalism at three of its London offices by “transphobic bigots,” and one of its leaders says education workers will stand up Wednesday “to those who are spreading hate.”
Offices of three London CUPE locals representing education workers and school support staff at two London-area boards were plastered with anti-transgender stickers two days before a protest of “inclusive and identity-affirming practices” in school boards.
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The vow by Laura Walton, an educational assistant and president of CUPE’s Ontario school boards council of unions, sets the stage for possible confrontations at a event Wednesday called 1 Million March 4 Children that organizers say is a protest of what they call a push for LGBT ideology in schools.
“The violence against property is intended to intimidate workers who are speaking out to protect children’s right to education in an environment that’s free from harassment,” Walton said in release from CUPE on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow, frontline education workers will stand up to those who are spreading hate.”
The union is calling on Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce “to denounce attacks on students’ right to education and to support the fundamental freedom of children not to be discriminated against.”
Mary Henry, president of CUPE Local 4222 that represents 1,600 employees of the Thames Valley District school board, said staff found stickers “everywhere” when they arrived Tuesday morning at the local’s office on Wharncliffe Road South.
“The stickers were all over everywhere on the front door, mail box, the light fixtures, the key pad area, the buzzer area,” she said.
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One of the stickers reads: Keep your hands off our kids and a second says: Keep gender politics out of schools, said Henry, whose union local represents custodians, office and clerical staff and early childhood educators.
The offices of CUPE Local 4186 on Clarke Road and CUPE Local 7575 on Brydges Street also were hit. Local 4186 represents support workers at the London District Catholic school board and Local 7575 represents 2,000 education assistants and student support supervisors at the Thames Valley board.
All three locals have filed reports with London police, CUPE said in a news release.
“It’s an unacceptable tactic of bullyism, is what it is,” Henry said. “Going against the people who support the children is very hurtful. There is no reason for it whatsoever. The students are the ones that are the targets . . . To me, that’s very cruel. Children should be supported and encouraged to continue with their lives and how they feel and express themselves.”
Three London offices of union locals representing education workers at the Thames Valley and London District Catholic school boards were plastered Monday night with anti-transgender stickers two days before a protest of “inclusive and identity-affirming practices” in school boards. (Submitted photo)
Last week, the Thames Valley District school board warned its schools about potential student walkouts Wednesday.
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In a memo obtained by The London Free Press, sent to both its elementary and high schools, the Thames Valley board says the potential disruptions “may negatively impact the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff.”
The warning is linked to an event called 1 Million March 4 Children being promoted by a group called Our Duty Canada that describes itself as “concerned Canadians standing together against gender ideology.”
“Schools and universities are teaching our children that people can have a gender that is different from, but somehow equivalent to, their sex,” the group says on its website. “We need to stop that.”
Organizers say they plan to peacefully protest the push for what they call LGBT ideology in schools.
In the memo, Thames Valley officials call on school administrators to support students by “ensuring student safety remains a priority during the peaceful demonstration and by communicating that support is available for any students that may need it.
