TORONTO: Education workers in Ontario, Canada's most populous province, have voted to accept a labor deal with the provincial government, union representatives said on Monday. More than 55,000 education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees called off a Nov. 7 strike after Ontario's government said it would rescind a law imposing a contract and using a legal clause to override workers' right to strike.
The provincial government thought we'd roll over, we'd suck it up and we'd accept less than we were worth, CUPE Ontario School Board Council of Union President Laura Walton told reporters.
She said more than 40,000 of the union's members voted for the agreement, with 73 per cent voting in favor of it. The educators were demanding better pay and more frontline staff in schools.
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a tweet that the deal is a great outcome that keeps kids learning in class. We are so pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement that has been ratified by the members that keep kids in classrooms and preserves the learning experience.