Negotiators for a union representing 55,000 Ontario education workers will be back at the bargaining table this morning after presenting a counter-offer to the government late last night.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is now waiting for the government’s response ahead of its planned strike on Friday.
The government has tabled legislation that would impose contracts on them and ban them from striking, but they say in the absence of a deal they will walk out on Friday anyway.
CUPE has not said what is in its counter-offer, but it had been seeking annual raises of about 11.7 per cent.
The government is proposing to legislate a contract with raises of 2.5 per cent a year for workers making less than 43-thousand dollars per year and 1.5 per cent for all others.
myFM asked your opinion on the strike. Most people we talked to agree with CUPE workers, but are also worried about their children’s education.
The Ontario government is hanging tough on their promise to keep kids in school.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce told myFM that children are his first priority.
The government is looking to speed up the passing of legislation that would keep kids in school this Friday and avoid a long-term strike. Despite the proposed legislation, CUPE says it will stage a walkout on Friday, though it’s not clear if that would be for more than one day.
With that news, some parents in the province are scrambling to arrange child care for Friday after several boards – including the Thames Valley District School Board – said they would be closing schools in response to the planned walkout. Meantime, the London District Catholic School Board advises information will be provided later this week. However, parents and guardians may wish to consider planning for alternate childcare arrangements.
