Tentative deal reached, schools will be open on Monday
The union representing maintenance, custodial and cafeteria workers at Lakehead Public Schools has reached a tentative contract deal with the province.
As a result, public schools in Thunder Bay will be open to in-class learning on Monday.
“There will be no job action tomorrow,” reads a release issued by leadership at the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
“Our members will be reporting to schools to continue supporting the students that we are proud to work with.”
Union officials said their membership has yet to vote on the deal, which still needs to be ratified by a majority of the membership.
“This fight has always been focused on the workers and it is important that workers have a voice on what has been presented.”
The union presented the province last Wednesday with a five-day notice of strike and had threatened to walk off the job for the second time in less than a month if no settlement was reached. – tbnewswatch.com
article website here
I think schools have now reached the point of being considered an essential service. Too much depends on children being in school every day. Everything from social, intellectual and physical health in the short AND long term to children’s future successes and failures in life. Yes, school is THAT important.
Of course there is also the fact that children MUST be in school for an economic perspective. With many households now having both parents working, there is nobody at home during the day. Kids HAVE to go to school. If they don’t, a parent must be off of work or grandparents have to fill in.
Binding arbitration is the answer. It would ensure children stay in school. It would ensure that the government makes a reasonable offer and that the union makes reasonable demands.
How binding arbitration works is that each side makes their case to an arbitrator and then that arbitrator choses one. Either the government’s offer or the unions demand. That is it. Strikes need to be made a thing of the past.
The only problem is picking an arbitrator that both sides can agree on. Sadly, in today’s world, there are few if any neutral parties. Everyone seems to have a personal agenda. Everyone has an opinion. Social media has made it so.
Anyway, education is now an essential service. Teachers contracts coming up.