By Rosalind Russell –
Mediation for education workers
The provincial government and the union representing 55-thousand educational workers sit down with a mediator today for the first of three days of talks.
It’s a last attempt to settle on a new contract before the Canadian Union of Public Employees is in a position to strike.
The union represents teachers’ aides, custodial staff, clerical workers, and other support staff.
It says its members, the lowest-paid in the educational system, have been hit badly by government limits on pay increases, as well as rising inflation.
It’s asking for an 11.7 per cent wage increase.
The province has offered two per cent more to those earning under 40-thousand dollars a year, and 1.25 per cent to the others.
Joint funeral service planned for slain officers
A joint funeral service will be held Thursday for two South Simcoe police officers killed in a shooting in Innisfil, near Barrie, last Tuesday evening.
Constables Morgan Russell and Devon Northrup were gunned down while attending a disturbance call at a home in the town.
A third officer exchanged gunfire with the 23-year-old suspect, who died at the scene.
Officials say the funeral will be private.
Pfizer booster now available
Ontarians 12 years of age and older can start receiving the Pfizer bivalent booster shot as of today.
Booking for the inoculation opened last week, when supplies of the vaccine began arriving in the province.
The booster protects against the original virus, as well two of the Omicron sub-variants.
It’s added to the Moderna bivalent booster, which has been available since early September.
Photo: A joint funeral will be held for the slain officers from South Simcoe Police Services. Photos provided by South Simcoe Police
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