Some schools in Hamilton, Niagara regions close as CUPE workers strike Friday

After a week of tense back and forth discussions, CUPE’s 55-thousand custodians, early childhood educators and educational assistants are officially on strike today, and that means no class for some Ontario students.

Some school boards in the region are remaining open while others are moving to hybrid in-person and online learning methods.

The Hamilton-Wentworth Public School Board will stay open.

Halton Public will also remain open on Friday, but says if the strike continues they’ll do hybrid online and in-person learning.

The Hamilton and Halton Catholic School Boards will both close, as well as Niagara’s public board.

The Grand Erie School Board says it will close its doors if there is a strike but continue online learning.

Residents are encouraged to check their school board’s website or social media for specific updates.

CUPE is also now warning that the strike could last longer than a day as the government and union are yet to reach a deal.

Earlier this week, the PC government said they would only negotiate if the union took the possibility of a strike off the table.

The government introduced new legislation that imposes a contract on workers and makes it illegal to strike. That legislature, called Bill 28, was passed last night.

READ MORE: Ontario passes bill to force CUPE deal, prohibit strikes

The new legislation passed, Bill 28, sets out $4,000 a day fines for workers who don’t comply and a $500,000 a day fine for CUPE, but the union says they’ll pay the fees and keep striking.

That could cost as much as $220 million dollars a day as Education Minister, Stephen Lecce says they plan to enforce the fine.

Ontario is seeking to have a walkout by education workers declared illegal by the Ontario Labour Relations Board and actions by union leaders declared unlawful.

Demonstrators are currently outside of progressive conservative MPP Natalie Pierre’s office, just one of the many picket lines across the province.

Major demonstrations are also planned for Queen’s Park.

—with files from Emily Tayler