Union to end Ontario education workers’ walkout after Ford promises to repeal strike law

A union representing 55,000 Ontario education workers who walked off the job Friday says protest sites “will be collapsed starting” Tuesday in response to Premier Doug Ford saying he will repeal legislation that imposed a contract on them and banned them from striking.

Representatives from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said at a news conference Monday that Ford had put his commitment in writing, and that both sides would restart contract negotiations. Leaders from numerous other unions were also in attendance.

A statement from Minister of Education Stephen Lecce confirmed that the government will repeal Bill 28 “in its entirety.” The law included the notwithstanding clause to circumvent any constitutional challenge to the legislation. The clause allows legislatures to override parts of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for a five-year term.

Source: Excerpted from CBC News Nov.7/22