Students return to school Tuesday as local education workers 'hopeful' a contract is coming
Both London area school boards said classes will resume in-person starting Tuesday
Education workers taking part in pickets outside of the labour minister's Strathroy office responded to news that an arrangement had been reached between their union and the province with wary anticipation.
Tens of thousands of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) members across Ontario were protesting at MPP's offices Monday morning when Premier Doug Ford said Bill 28 would be repealed, if they ended their strike.
The union has agreed to the terms meaning kids will return to class starting Tuesday, and bargaining will resume. Some 55,000 custodians, education assistants and early childhood educators initially walked off the job last Friday after legislation passed imposing a contract and making strike action illegal.
"I am hopeful that the government has heard who we are and what we can do," said Nathasha Jackson with CUPE Local 4186. "I hope that they come together and create a great agreement from not only the workers, but for the children that we support as well."
The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) and the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) have confirmed schools will be open to in-person learning and child care on Tuesday.
"This is news. It remains to be seen how good it is," said TVDSB secretary Alisha Baker who was one of several hundred walking around Labour Minister Monte McNaughton's office. Others agreed that the really good news will come the day they have a new contract.
"I'm not sure that we feel the main goal is being addressed," said Christine Beer, an educational assistant, and CUPE member. "I think we're all ready to go back to the table as long as there's a fair deal and we know that it's going to happen."
When talks initially broke off, a mediator had said that CUPE's demands, and the province's concessions, were too far apart.
Despite a sense of caution, some excitement shone through.
"I'm excited to be back to school with our students. We've been having a really great year thus far. We want to continue with that," said Baker. "We want to be there, we want them to be successful, and I believe cooler heads will prevail and and a fair collective agreement will be reached."
