Strike averted as Ontario reaches tentative deal with education workers

A school strike in Ontario was averted after education workers and the government reached a tentative agreement late Sunday afternoon.

The agreement comes after a weekend of intense negotiations between the Canadian Union of Civil Servants (CUPE) and the provinces.

Few details have been released about what will be included in the tentative agreement. However, CUPE previously said the government agreed to raise workers’ wages by 3.59%.

This is an increase from previous proposals, which included a 2.5% annual wage increase for workers making less than $43,000 and a 1.5% annual wage increase for workers making more. It was this contract that Bill 28 required workers to do, and it also made it illegal for workers to go on strike.

The two sides had agreed to reach an agreement by 5 p.m. Sunday to avoid a strike affecting thousands of students, parents and workers.

This is breaking news. More coming.