Strike averted as Ontario reaches tentative deal with education workers
A school strike has been averted in Ontario as education workers and the government reached a tentative agreement late Sunday afternoon.
The agreement comes after a weekend of intensive negotiations between the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the province.
“There will be no job action tomorrow,” the union’s bargaining team said in a Tweet. “Our members will be reporting to schools to continue supporting the students that we are proud to work with.”
The deal still needs to be ratified by CUPE members. A vote is expected to begin on Thursday and will be completed by next weekend.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Laura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU), confirmed that after 170 days of bargaining, the team reached a tentative agreement. However, she did not speak highly about what was in the deal.
“The entire central bargaining committee wishes we could have moved the government to make the investment in public education that you not only wanted, but that you needed and that your children deserve,” she said. “We have done our absolute best to represent workers needs and interests.”
“We will continue to do that now, bringing the tentative agreement back to the front-line workers for the ratification vote.”
According to Walton, the government made no further concessions throughout the weekend, adding the province “did not provide any new money for new services.”
“Basically, what we’ve been told by this government is that they are not willing to budge any further. We are bringing to our members to have the vote,” she said.
“As a mom, I don’t like this deal. As a worker, I don’t like this deal … I think it falls short.”
Despite saying this, Walton explained the central bargaining committee will recommend members accept the agreement “as required.”
If CUPE members vote not to ratify the tentative agreement, the union and province will have to go back to the negotiation table.
CUPE has previously said the government had come to the table with a 3.59 per cent wage increase for workers.
This is an increase from their previous offer, which included a 2.5 per cent annual raise for workers who make under $43,000 and a 1.5 per cent yearly wage increase for those who make more. It was this contract that was mandated onto workers in Bill 28—also known as the “Keeping Students in Class Act”—which also used the notwithstanding clause to make it illegal for workers to go on strike.
The bill was rescinded last week as part of a deal with CUPE to end a two-day protest that shuttered schools and return to the bargaining table.
CUPE members and supporters join a demonstration near Member of Provincial Parliament of Ontario Lisa MacLeod’s office in Ottawa, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. Intense bargaining is set to take place today between the province and education workers ahead of a possible strike.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Both sides had agreed to a 5 p.m. Sunday deadline to come to an agreement in order to avert another strike that would have impacted thousands of students, parents and workers.
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce called the agreement a “positive outcome for all parties” Sunday afternoon.
“The biggest beneficiary of this deal is our kids, who are going to have some stability and be able to stay in school,” he said. “We are grateful to all parties for working with the government.
“Kids deserve to be in class and I’m proud to confirm they will be tomorrow.”
Lecce added that all parties received some “incremental wins” in the tentative agreement.
The province is still in negotiations with other education unions, including those representing public school teachers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.