Contract negotiations between the Ontario government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have turned sour, with the union pledging to walk off the job on Friday.
The union represents 55,000 education workers, including early childhood educators, caretakers and librarians. This week, union leaders promised that workers would leave work on Friday despite promised legislation that would ban strikes.
The government used to offer raises of 2% a year for workers earning less than $40,000 and 1.25% for everyone else, but is now seeking to legislate a four-year deal that would grant 2.5% annual increases to workers earning less. over $43,000 and 1.5% increase for all others.
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It’s unclear whether a walkout would last more than a day, but some of Ontario’s largest school boards have said they will close schools on Friday if workers take action.
CBC News has contacted several school boards in northwestern Ontario to see what their plans are if those education workers aren’t around.
Here’s what we’ve heard so far, and we’ll update as this story develops:
Lakehead District School Board: Schools will be open
The Lakehead District School Board announced on its website Tuesday that all of its schools will be open on Friday.
“Within the Lakehead District School Board, CUPE represents custodial and maintenance staff,” the board said. “Please note that the provincial situation remains fluid and changing. The Lakehead District School Board continues to monitor developments on a daily basis and decisions will be made accordingly. »
Rainy River District School Board: Still on Watch
The board has yet to respond to a request for comment from CBC News, but posted an update on its website:
“The Rainy River District School Board continues to closely monitor provincial labor negotiations,” the statement said. “At RRDSB, CUPE represents janitorial and maintenance staff, as well as dedicated business staff, secretaries and early childhood educators. We highly value the service of CUPE workers and respect the collective bargaining process.
The council says it is making contingency planning for Friday to ensure “continuity of learning for students”, and more information will be forthcoming.
Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board: No impact
Regardless of what happens with CUPE negotiations, Friday will be a normal school day for students at the Thunder Bay Catholic School Board.
That’s because the board doesn’t have CUPE members working in its schools, according to a post on the board’s website.
“With CUPE’s positioning to strike on Friday, this industrial action will not affect our board of directors,” he said.
Thunder Bay French Catholic School Board: no impact
Like its Anglophone counterparts, Thunder Bay’s French Catholic school board, Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales, will not be affected by any labor action as there are no CUPE employees in their schools, confirmed a spokesperson at CBC News.
Superior-Greenstone District School Board: no impact
CUPE does not represent any workers on the Superior-Greenstone District School Board, so there will be no impact on schools in the board if the protest takes place on Friday.
The board covers 15 public schools in Northwestern Ontario, including Beardmore, Geraldton, Longlac, Nakin, Caramat, Dorion, Nipigon, Red Rock, Schreiber, Terrace Bay, Marathon and Maitouwadge.
Keewatin-Patricia District School Board: No update
The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board also did not post an update online and did not respond to our calls.
The board has schools in the western part of Northwestern Ontario, including Kenora, Sioux Narrows, Vermilion Bay, Ear Falls, Red Lake, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Ignace, Pickle Lake, Savant Lake and Upsala, and meets the educational needs of many neighboring First Nations and Far North communities.
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