A union representing 55-thousand Ontario education workers says a tentative deal with the provincial government was made early last evening, averting a strike that had been planned for today. The Canadian Union of Public Employees says both sides had agreed to a one-dollar-per-hour raise each year, or about 3.59 per cent annually in the four-year pact. The union had also been pushing for staffing guarantees, but Belleville’s Laura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, says they weren’t able to secure those.
“I think it falls short and I think it’s terrible that we live in a world that doesn’t see the need to provide services to kids that they need. But we will
always put workers first, we will always put our students first.”
The union had been looking for 100-million dollars in guarantees of higher staffing levels for educational assistants, librarians, custodians and secretaries, as well as an early childhood educator in every kindergarten classroom and not just classes of a certain size.
Union members will vote on the agreement later this week.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce (LEH’-chay) said the biggest beneficiaries of the tentative deal are Ontario students, who will not have to miss class due to a strike.
“We are grateful for all the parties working with the government. We’ve been very clear in what will guide us every day. Kids deserve to be in class and I’m proud to confirm that they will be.”
Union members will vote on the agreement later this week.
