Ratification votes begin for Ontario CUPE education worker members

Over 50,000 Ontario education workers will begin voting Thursday on whether they want to accept a tentative agreement the union achieved last weekend with the provincial government.

A four-year contract comes with a $1-per-hour raise annually or approximately 3.59 per cent each year for the average education worker, according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

READ MORE: Teaching assistants on strike at McMaster University

The president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, Laura Walton, has said she does not like the deal because new staffing levels are not a part of the deal.

Ratification votes will continue through to Dec. 5, with results coming out the day after on Dec. 6.

If the majority of voters reject the deal, CUPE and the Ford government will return to the table and the union could give another strike notice.

READ MORE:CUPE negotiation deadline set to Sunday as strike looms