Ontario: Negotiations between the union and the provincial government representing educational support staff in Ontario have once again come to a standstill. Now the negotiations to resume just two days before workers announces to begin a legal strike.
Around 55,000 education workers in Ontario, including custodians, early childhood educators and administration staff, will be in a position to strike legally on November 3 if a deal between the two parties does not come to an end.
Meanwhile, a request has been made to resume talks from November 1 with the help of a mediator.
The president of CUPE’s Ontario School Boards Council of Unions said that if these talks remained inconclusive than a full strike is very possible.
Earlier this month, 96.5 per cent of Ontario education workers voted in favour of a strike.
The union has been demanding a $3.25 per hour or 11.7 per cent increase in annual allowances, as well as minimum staffing requirements, early childhood educators earmarked for each kindergarten class, and $100 million for 1,500 to 1,700 new employment opportunities.