Two regional school boards will resume regular classes after the Canadian Union of Public Employees announced an end to their walkout.
On Monday, the dispute between the province and education workers reached a reprieve after Premier Doug Ford announced he would be willing to revoke Bill 28 if the union returned to the bargaining table. The union subsequently confirmed they would end their walkout, which began last Friday.
The Rainy River District School Board had closed many of its schools and programs last Friday, with high school classes taking place online on Monday and elementary classes set to begin online on Tuesday.
After CUPE announced the end to its strike, the school board said classes will resume as normal on Tuesday.
The Northwest Catholic School Board had also closed its schools due to the walkout, warning parents they would remain closed until further notice. The board announced that its classes will also be back in session on Tuesday.
In their Monday noon-hour press conference, CUPE officials were joined by representatives from several other public and private sector unions in the province.
“Let there be no mistake. Canada’s unions are ready to come back and rally once again and do whatever it takes to get this done,” said Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress.
Bruske’s statement came about three hours after Ford held his own press conference to say he would be willing to walk back his government’s legislation that would use the notwithstanding clause to impose a contract upon the union and prohibit its ability to legally strike.
“As a gesture of good faith, our government is willing to rescind the legislation — but, only if CUPE agrees to show a similar gesture of good faith by stopping their strike and letting kids back into their classrooms. We’re willing to make a fair deal,” Ford said.
CUPE represents about 55,000 educational workers across Ontario. The union has been calling for wage increases of nearly 12 per cent for all workers with increases in overtime pay, additional education assistants and custodians, as well as increased staffing levels in libraries, offices and lunchrooms.
