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Full strike possible Monday by CUPE workers at local public schools

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The Grand Erie District School Board is advising parents to consider alternative care for their children if hundreds of education workers go on strike as planned Monday.

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In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the board said it will announce by 1 p.m. on Friday whether its elementary and secondary schools in Brantford and Brant, Norfolk and Haldimand counties will be closed Monday.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of parents/guardians and look forward to providing another update on Friday afternoon.”

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A strike by the Canadian Union of Public Employees would  affect about 1,000 Grand Erie educational assistants, secretaries, custodians, library and food technicians, clerical staff and those in maintenance, trades and information technology.

Support staff with the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board are not members of CUPE.

CUPE president Laura Walton announced Wednesday  the union will launch a strike Monday if the Ontario government doesn’t begin bargaining in good faith. She said 93 per cent of the union’s  55,000 members have voted in favour of strike action.

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A work to rule by the union began Monday that saw such things as custodians not emptying garbage cans outside schools, clerical workers not finding replacements for absent staff, and education workers not working overtime.

CUPE workers have been in a legal strike position to strike since Sept. 30.

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce responded in a hastily called news conference Wednesday by saying he is available around the clock to continue bargaining and hopes to get back to the table Friday, before the Monday strike deadline.

Lecce said he is frustrated that a deal had almost been brokered last weekend, but an outstanding matter regarding sick days continues to be a sticking point.

But Canadian Union of Public Employees 5100 president Jennifer Faulkner said it’s the government that’s walked away from the discussions.

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“We will happily sit down at the table any time,” said Jennifer Faulkner, president of CUPE Local 5100, which represents the Grand Erie workers.  “They walked away Sunday and that’s what’s pushed us to this.”

She said the local office is  organizing picket sites and fielding phone calls from members.

She said all of the CUPE 5100 has never been on strike before. In 2005, a portion of the group struck for five days.

“Honestly, this is truly the last place we want to be. In 40 years as an EA, I’ve never been in this position and we’ve had a lot of people on the phone in tears. They don’t want to do this but they have to.”

Grand Erie spokesperson Kimberley Newhouse circulated an announcement from the board, saying it is “evaluating what the impact” of a full withdrawal of services would have on the safety of students.

SGamble@postmedia.com
@EXPSGamble

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