Strike possible for CUPE

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 55,000 education workers in Ontario's schools, requested a no-board report on Wednesday, potentially putting its members across the province in a legal strike position the first week of school.

CUPE's no-board request was initiated after its demand for conciliation failed to produce sufficient bargaining dates from the province and the Council of Trustees Association.

Only three additional bargaining days were offered prior to the start of school.

"These additional days are still not enough," said Terri Preston, Chair of CUPE's Ontario School Boards Coordinating Committee (OSBCC).

"So far, we've only had three negotiating days. Teachers have had more than 20 days. There's no evidence that bargaining for education workers is being taken seriously. Our members have been without a contract for a year. All education workers deserve respect."

Education workers include educational assistants, office administrators, custodians, tradespeople, instructors, library technicians, early childhood educators, IT specialists, speech pathologists and many others.