TDSB to close schools for duration of education workers' strike
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) says its schools will be closed for in-person learning starting Friday and will remain that way as long as tens of thousands of education workers are on strike.
The TDSB, Ontario’s largest school board, notified parents and guardians on Wednesday evening about its plan ahead of the anticipated walkout by the 55,000 education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in two days.
“Student supervision and safety are our top priorities and without the important services of nearly 15,000 CUPE employees, we cannot guarantee that our learning environments will remain safe and clean for all students,” the TDSB said in its update.
On Wednesday, CUPE reiterated its members, which include custodians, librarians, early childhood educators, education assistants, and administrative staff, will walk off their jobs on Nov. 4 despite the passage of legislation that would ban them from doing so.
Bill 28, the Keeping Students in Class Act, which is being fast-tracked in the Ontario legislature, will also impose a four-year contract on education workers.
The union confirmed on Wednesday that members will be on strike beyond Friday unless a non-legislated deal with the government is reached. Meanwhile, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said no further negotiations will happen until CUPE cancels the strike.
CUPE issued a strike notice to school boards on Sunday, which prompted the Ford government to introduce the back-to-work bill the following day.
Any worker who walks off the job in contravention of the bill could face fines of up to $4,000 per day. The union, meanwhile, could be fined $500,000 a day.
The TDSB says students will be given work to complete at home independently for Friday. As for activities should the job action continues beyond Friday, the board says they will share more information at a later date.
“We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached before Friday. Should the situation change, we will provide families with updates as they become available,” the TDSB said.
Ontario education workers have been without a contract since Aug. 31.
- with files from CTV Toronto's Katherine DeClerq
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
It's 30 years since apartheid ended. South Africa's celebrations are set against growing discontent
South Africa marked 30 years since the end of apartheid and the birth of its democracy with a ceremony in the capital Saturday that included a 21-gun salute and the waving of the nation's multicolored flag.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.