Unless there is a last minute deal, a strike by education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees will proceed.
Contract talks with a provincial mediator are continuing.
The Ontario government is expected to pass legislation today (Thursday) that will impose a contract on 55,000 education workers ahead of a planned walkout.
Those who strike could face fines of 4-thousand dollars under Bill 28.
Despite that threat, union spokesperson Laura Walton says a walkout is planned.
“At this point without anything changing we are on strike until further notice starting Friday unless a deal is reached.”
Walton says their pickets tomorrow will be in front of MPP constituency offices, not schools.
She stresses they’re not leaving workers on their own.
“We are part of a very large union and an even larger labour movement. So there will be direction that will be provided to members on what to do should they receive a fine and how to proceed. We will be there for them, with them, every step of the way.”
Schools in the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board will remain open, however reports indicate schools representing the Northwest Catholic District School Board will be closed.
Meantime, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he spoke with Premier Doug Ford Wednesday regarding the ever growing attention over the province’s use of the notwithstanding clause to force CUPE education workers to not strike.
Trudeau said in a release that Ford knows the clause is “wrong and inappropriate” and that the premier knows it should only ever be used in the most exceptional of circumstances.
Ford’s office, meanwhile, said the premier told the prime minister that allowing education workers to strike would have an “unacceptable” effect on students after two years of disruptions due to the pandemic.
The education workers include early childhood educators, secretaries, clerks, IT technicians, educational assistants and custodians.
