Tentative deal reached with education support workers

Ontario has reached a tentative contract agreement with the union representing school support staff, ending a work-to-rule campaign.

Education Minister Liz Sandals says in a statement that the deal is net-zero, meaning any salary increases are offset through savings elsewhere.

The Liberal government had threatened to dock the pay of support staff represented by CUPE and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, as well as the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, if they didn’t end their work-to-rule campaigns.

Premier Kathleen Wynne had said that if the unions didn’t end their administrative strikes by November 1st, she would give permission to school boards to trigger five days’ notice to dock their pay.

Public elementary teachers are the only teachers in the province that haven’t reached an agreement.