The news broke on Sunday evening, November 20, 2022 that the Province of Ontario and education support workers with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) had reached a tentative agreement.
As a result, schools across the Lambton-Kent District School Board and the St. Clair Catholic District School Board were open on Monday morning, November 21, 2022.
On Sunday evening, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, issued a statement regarding the tentative agreement.
Minister Lecce said this is the first tentative central agreement reached through the 2022 round of central collective bargaining in the education sector.
“Throughout these negotiations, our government’s focus has always been keeping students in the classroom without disruption,” the Minister stated.
“I am pleased to formally announce that the Crown, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and the school board trustee associations, have reached a tentative agreement that keeps schools open so that kids can stay in class. I know this is welcome news to all students, parents, and workers alike, who now have the certainty they’ve been looking for.”
Minister Lecce added: “This is not a win for governments or education unions, it’s a win for Ontario families who finally have peace of mind knowing their children will remain in the classroom. After two and a half years of unprecedented disruptions, nothing matters more than stability in our schools. We are pleased to have reached a deal today that will make sure kids are in class catching up on their learning.”
Also on Sunday, union officials confirmed there would be no job action on Monday and their members would be reporting to schools “to continue supporting the students that we are proud to work with.”
“The OSBCU Bargaining Team will be bringing a tentative agreement to the membership,” union officials say.
“Members should watch for more information regarding webinars and ratification vote details shortly. This fight has always been focused on the workers and it is important that workers have a voice on what has been presented. We will provide further information to our amazing community and labour allies shortly. Our deepest appreciation for the continuing support.”
We’ll provide more details when they become available.
