Ontario passes bill to force CUPE deal, prohibit strikes

The Ontario government passed legislation Thursday making it illegal for 55,000 education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) to strike and forcing a contract on them.

But CUPE has said it will still go on strike starting Friday for an unspecified amount of time.

Several boards have said they will have to shut down schools as they would be unable to operate them safely without the CUPE members such as administrative staff, custodians and early childhood educators. The union is also telling parents to plan for closures into next week too.

READ MORE: Mediation talks between CUPE, Ontario ends with no deal ahead of strike

The bill forces a contract on the education workers and forbids them from striking – including the notwithstanding clause to protect it from constitutional challenges.

Ontario’s Education Minister Stephen Lecce has said the new law was necessary to keep kids in class.

The legislation sets out fines for ignoring a ban on strikes for the life of the agreement of up to $4,000 per employee per day, while there are fines of up to $500,000 for the union.

READ MORE: OPSEU education workers to walk out in solidarity with CUPE