Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said today the government continues to be willing to negotiate with the union representing 55,000 education support staff, in order to avert a planned strike on Nov.21.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) gave the government a five-day strike notice on Nov. 16 after collective agreement bargaining broke down. An earlier strike two weeks ago lasted two days until the government promised to repeal anti-strike legislation if the union returned to contract talks.
A walkout of workers, which includes librarians, education assistants, janitors, and other support staff, but not teachers, would shut down most of the province’s 4,800 schools to in-person learning for a second time this month….