Parents across the province are scrambling to make childcare arrangements in the face of a possible strike by education employees.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees has said its 55,000 members plan to walk off the job on Monday after holding a work-to-rule campaign this past week.
Several Ontario school boards have said they will have to close schools if the labour disruption goes ahead.
Locally, all four local school boards are watching as contract talks resume later this afternoon between CUPE and provincial negotiators says CKAT's Richard Coffin.
With the threat of a strike on Monday, the Near North Board says it may mean school closures and parents are encouraged to make alternate childcare arrangements, just in case.
"Near North District School Board is confirming details of the strike action and assessing the potential impact on school operations The health and safety of our students is our priority. We want our school communities to be aware that this strike action by CUPE may result in school closures as of Monday, October 7, 2019. Families are strongly encouraged to begin making alternate childcare arrangements prior to this potential strike beginning on Monday, October 7, 2019."
Meantime, the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic Board is monitoring the situation and will update parents as information becomes available.
At the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, officials say for now it's expected all of their schools and daycare programs will remain open on Monday. All Community Use permits will be cancelled effective Monday, October 7, until further notice.
The French Public board (CSPNE) says some schools may have to close to students in the event of a strike.
Northeastern Ontario Public School Board says "Given the scale of this strike and the impact it has on CSPNE schools, it will be impossible for us to ensure the safety and well-being of students. The CSPNE is required to close some schools to students until the situation is resolved."
About 55,000 education workers across the province could hit the picket line on Monday if talks fail including:
- Assistants in Language Therapy
- Library Technicians
- Caretakers
- Early childhood educators
- Stakeholders and Special Education Workers
- Cleaners
- School secretaries
- Computer technicians
- Social Service Technicians
- Social workers
Boards say the closures are necessary to ensure student safety, which they say would be compromised without CUPE workers on site.
