Education Minister Stephen Lecce has introduced legislation aimed at keeping 55,000 education workers on the job.
Lecce says the bill, which would impose a contract on Canadian Union of Public Employees workers including custodians, teacher’s aides, and clerical workers, is part of the government’s commitment to keep kids in the classroom.
The bill is expected to pass on Thursday and would avert a strike that’s scheduled to begin on Friday.
On Sunday, CUPE rejected what Lecce called a “more generous” offer.
That deal offered a 2.5 per cent increase annually to employees making less than $43,000 a year and a 1-and-a-half percent increase to everyone else.
CUPE is demanding an 11.7 per cent increase among other things.
CUPE says despite the legislation it will hold a provincewide protest on Friday meaning its members will be off the job.
