By Rosalind Russell – Parents may not know until Sunday evening whether their children will be heading off to school on Monday morning.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees says it’s agreed to bargain until 5 pm on Sunday and if no agreement is reached with the province, they’ll send their 55-thousand educational support staff onto the picket lines.
The Ministry of Education has instructed the school boards affected to make sure there’s a “speedy transition to remote learning” if they determine they can’t safely keep schools open.
The union says the two sides recently agreed on a 3.59 per cent wage increase, but they’re still fighting for higher staffing levels for educational assistants, librarians, custodians, secretaries and early childhood educators.
Closer to home, the boards have made their decisions if a deal is not reached at the bargaining table.
The Rainbow Board’s schools will remain open on Monday, the French Catholic schools will close on Tuesday and go to virtual learning and the English Catholic schools will be closed on Monday if there is strike action.
There has been no response from the Algoma Public School Board.
The Moose will update the school situation as it develops.
Photo: Talks continue right through to Sunday, so parents will not know until Monday morning whether their kids will be in class. If no deal is reached, a strike by CUPE and OPSEU workers could begin Monday night. Photo by Richard Coffin.
Submit News Tip
