Contract talks between the provincial government and Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario School Board Council of Union have reached an impasse.
The union that represents education workers says it has filed a no board report with the Ministry of Labour.
Officials say government negotiators asked that the union make dramatic and substantial changes to its requests.
Education Ministry Stephen Lecce responded on Twitter by saying that they would ensure children remain in class.
Premier Doug Ford is urging education workers to not go on strike and continue negotiating.
Laura Walton is representing CUPE at the bargaining table.
“We have proposals to settle on the table that are reasonable, necessary and affordable. Doug Ford has the power and resources to accept our proposals today.”
Walton says if he does that, the lowest paid education workers who are paid on average $39,000 a year won’t have to strike to make ends meet and to defend services for students from cutbacks.
CUPE says their members are firm in demands for a wage increase of $3.25 an hour.
(With files from Tim Davidson and Randy Thoms)
