It is classes as usual today as students returned to school across the province and here in the Rainy River district.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees, the province and the Council of Trustees’ Associations emerged last night with a tentative deal for thousand of education workers who were poised to walk off the job today.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the agreement came as the result of round-the-clock bargaining.
“All parties bargained in good faith late into the night and over the weekend to reach a deal that is fair and that is reasonable,” says Lecce.
The deal impacts secretaries, early childhood educations, education assistants, librarians, custodians and others. No details are being immediately released. It must still be ratified by the union membership. Lecce credits negotiators on all sides.
“By making students the very center of what we are discussing, we can achieve material successes that both keep them in class and provide that stability that we all want while concurrently advancing our shared priorities.”
Teachers are next on the province’s radar.
The Elementary Teachers Federation is currently holding strike votes.
Rainy River district teachers will hold their meetings on October 23.
