Ontario\u2019s schools will be open as usual today after a strike by Ontario\u2019s 55,000 education workers was averted at the 11th hour<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shortly the 5 p.m. Sunday deadline, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with the provincial government and its members would not be walking off the job as planned<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most school boards across Ontario said they would be suspending in-person learning if education support staff went on strike<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five days ago, the union announced it would take that step if a deal wasn\u2019t struck with the province<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two sides had been in bargaining talks for a total of 171 days. More than 50,000 custodians, early childhood educators, and school administration staff who work in the province\u2019s public, Catholic, English, and French school boards were without a collective agreement since Aug. 31<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe workers will be in schools tomorrow and there will not be a strike,\u201d Laura Walton, president of CUPE\u2019s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, said late Sunday afternoon<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said ratification vote for the new deal will now be held and the union said it is recommending its members accept the agreement. The vote is expected to get underway on Thursday and should wrap up by the weekend. The two sides will go back to the bargaining table if the agreement is not ratified, Walton, a Bellville education assistant, noted<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking directly to her members, Walton said she\u2019s \u201cincredibly proud\u201d of the work they did, including getting organized, making phone calls, and building solidarity<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou gave the bargaining team a hefty assignment achieving real wage gains, improving working conditions, and enhancing the services our students need and our parents rely on. You put your energy into this,\u201d she said<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe 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. That fight does not end with one setback. We will keep representing your needs and we will keep fighting for you and with you\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Walton, the government made no further concessions, adding the province \u201cdid not provide any new money for new services\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walton said in the end CUPE is accepting a $1 flat rate wage increase, which she said \u201cfalls very short of what the workers need in this current climate\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The union previously said the government proposed a 3.59 per cent wage increase for workers, an increase from their previous offer, which included a 2.5 per cent annual raise for workers earning under $43,000 and a 1.5 per cent yearly wage increase for those who make more<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These terms were mandated into a contract for the workers under Bill 28, the \u201cKeeping Students in Class Act\u201d, which used the notwithstanding clause to make it illegal for workers to go on strike. The province rescinded that bill last week following two days of protests and a promise to return to talks with the union<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a mom, I don’t like this deal. As a worker. I don’t like this deal. As the president of the OSBCU, I understand what this is the deal that’s on the table. I think it falls short,\u201d Walton said<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI 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. And that’s why there will not be a strike tomorrow. That’s why we’re taking it to the workers. And that’s why we hope to have it completed the ratification vote completed by Sunday, a week today\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to briefly to reporters following CUPE announcement, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the agreement is a positive outcome for all partie\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe biggest beneficiary of this deal is our kids, who are going to have some stability and be able to stay in school,\u201d he said<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are grateful to all parties for working with the government. \u2026 Kids deserve to be in class and I\u2019m proud to confirm they will be tomorrow\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lecce, who would not speak to the specifics of the agreement, said there have been some \u201cincremental wins\u201d for both sides and that \u201cevery party leaves the table with something that they wanted to advance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe greatest beneficiary of this deal is our kids who are going to be in school. That’s what matters. This is not about unions winning or government winning,\u201d he said, calling the agreement a \u201cmaterial win for working parents\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lecce said regardless of the ratification vote outcome, the province government intends to stay at the table and would continue to have \u201cgood faith negotiations\u201d with Ontario\u2019s four other key education unions that are currently in contract negotiations<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With files from CTV Toronto\u2019s Katherine DeClerq<\/p>\n\n\n\n