Ford willing to revoke education-worker law if CUPE agrees to end strike

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is offering to revoke legislation that forced a contract on 55,000 education workers and prohibited them from striking, if the workers’ union agrees to end a walkout that has closed several schools.

The law also uses the notwithstanding clause to protect against constitutional challenges, and Ford says Monday he understands that is controversial.

READ MORE: Education workers, union bracing themselves for continued strike action

Ford says he is willing to go back to the bargaining table, however, education workers must return to the classroom.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the education workers, is scheduled to hold a news conference at 11 a.m.

WATCH MORE: CUPE will hold a news conference and media availability at 11 a.m.

This comes as CUPE, the Ontario government, parents and students are anticipating a decision by the Ontario Labour Relations Board on the legality of the strike that began Friday.

Hundreds of thousands of students are not at school Monday as a result of the walkout, which CUPE has said will continue regardless of the labour board’s decision.