Many school boards closed Friday ahead of CUPE education workers’ strike

CUPE education workers are set to hit the picket line indefinitely starting Friday. Many school boards in our area are shutting down Friday until a new labour deal is reached.

Catholic boards in Hamilton, Halton, and Niagara are shutting their schools’ doors. The District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) will close as well but Halton and Hamilton’s public schools will remain open tomorrow.

Hamilton’s Catholic Chair Pat Daly says once remote learning is underway, it’s unlikely every student will receive resources for remote learning like tablets.

Daly says roughly 1,100 workers are in a position to walk off the job, prompting its’ closure without staff members like educational assistants, early childhood workers, and administration.

“We know it causes a great deal of inconvenience for families, staff, and students, but we just couldn’t compromise the students’ safety,” Daly said.

Educational assistants CHCH News spoke with today say it’s something they don’t want to do but have to, “I got to work two jobs, I just can’t afford life with this job alone.”

Other unions say they plan to show support for CUPE. The Ontario Public Service Employee’s Union (OPSEU) says 8,000 workers will walk off the job tomorrow as a sign of solidarity.

LiUNA, the union that endorsed the Ford government during the election period called on the tories to revoke what they call an “anti-union legislation” adding it erodes collective bargaining rights.