It’s back to class for thousands of students across Chatham-Kent and Lambton County.
The union representing Ontario’s education support staff has ended a province-wide strike, with the Ford government promising to reverse the controversial use of the Notwithstanding Clause to impose a contract.
“At the earliest opportunity, we will revoke Bill 28 in its entirety and be at the table so that kids can return to the classroom after two difficult years,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a written statement.
Laura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, said the union remains in a legal strike position should talks with the government once again break down.
“With the repeal of Bill 28, education workers’ rights are intact again. We have not used our leverage, ours is not a one-and-done. Worker power remains and it builds every single day,” said Walton. “We need to be clear to this government, this is just the beginning.”
With the end of the walkout, the St. Clair Catholic, Lambton Kent, and Providence French Catholic School Boards have announced that their schools will reopen to students this morning.
However, school officials are ready should the ongoing contract dispute escalate once again.
“It is possible that both sides will resume respective measures either at the level of legislation or pressure tactics if an impasse materializes again. Csc Providence is prepared for any eventuality,” Director of Education Eugenie Congi says in a statement to parents. “This will allow students to keep their computer tools in their possession so that they can switch to remote learning quickly if CUPE members are withdrawn again.”
“We recognize that there is still much work to do at the bargaining table, in negotiations between CUPE provincial and the Ontario government,” St Clair Catholic District School Board Director of Education Scott Johnson said. “We continue to pray that the two sides will reach an agreement that is fair for all parties.”
Meantime, Premier Ford and Minister Lecce have scheduled another news conference, slated to begin at 9 o’clock this morning.
More to come.