TORONTO — The provincial government and the union representing 55,000 education workers will use a mediator to try to reach a new collective agreement and head off a labour disruption in schools across Ontario.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced Friday that mediator William Kaplan, the same person who helped the parties strike a deal in 2019, will sit down with the parties starting on Monday.
CUPE represents workers such as early childhood educators, librarians and custodians.
The two sides are far apart on the issue of wages.
Earlier this month, the union voted 97 per cent in favour of going on strike if necessary to support its contract demands.
CUPE is waiting for a "no board" report from a conciliator, which would put it in a legal strike position after 17 days.
New dates have been added for bargaining, so negotiators for the two sides will meet for three consecutive days next week.
