Central bargaining talks between the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the province and the Council of Trustees’ Association will resume Friday.
CUPE made the offer to head back to the table just days after announcing the education workers it represents would walk off the job to back contract demands.
Secretaries, educational assistants, custodians and maintenance staff at schools across the province began scaling back duties this week as part of a back-to-work campaign.
CUPE’s Laura Walton says they’re ready to their part to find a resolve at the bargaining table, but the province and school boards need to be equally committed.
Ontario’s Education Minister Stephen Lecce says he’s committed to reaching a deal.
He feels the two sides are close with an issue regarding sick days one of the key issues unresolved.
Lecce is a little frustrated by the timing of CUPE’s strike announcement, just days into the work-to-rule campaign.
He’s determined to reach a deal and will do whatever it takes to keep students in class.
