Windsor, St. Clair Catholic schools, Lambton-Kent public schools will close if CUPE strike proceeds Monday
If Ontario education workers part of the Canadian Public Union of Employees (CUPE) strike Monday, Windsor-Essex Catholic schools will close while the region's public schools will remain open.
Schools in the St. Clair Catholic District School Board will also close if an agreement is not reached.
Additionally, the Lambton-Kent District School Board (LKDSB) confirmed it too would close schools for the duration of any strike that may develop.
The Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board released a statement Thursday morning with its contingency plan in place.
"The health and safety of all of our students and staff remains the Board's primary concern and was the predominant factor that was considered in making this decision," said Terry Lyons, director of education, in the statement.
Both the St. Clair Catholic board and the Lambton-Kent public board echoed concerns for health and safety.
"CUPE represents custodians, early childhood educators, educational assistants, library and computer technicians, and secretaries," said a statement on the board's website.
"A full strike would mean none of these important supports for schools would be in place and the board will not be able to safely operate our schools."
According to the LKDSB, CUPE staff represent "custodians, early childhood educators, educational assistants, secretaries, library and computer technicians and other school-based and central staff members" across the board's system.
"A full strike would mean none of these important supports for schools would be in place and the LKDSB will not be able to safely operate our schools," said John Howitt, director of education with the LKDSB, in a letter to parents published Thursday.
The WECDSB "strongly suggests" that parents and guardians begin looking at alternative arrangements for childcare.
Parents will be informed through the board website, social media and by phone as soon as the board knows for sure if they will be closed Monday.
Windsor public board to remain open
The Greater Essex County District School Board has not made the same decision.
Communications director Scott Scantlebury said regardless of the outcome of contract talks, the public schools and student transportation will operate as usual on Monday.
CUPE members have said they will escalate their work-to-rule job action to strike action if a collective agreement isn't reached. Approximately 55,000 education workers across the province have been solely performing their core duties since the work-to-rule order came into effect Monday. Talks are set to resume Friday after breaking down last week.
Workers affected at the GECDSB include approximately 550 clerical, custodial, maintenance and information technology employees. They are members of CUPE Locals 1348 and 27.
At the WECDSB, 568 permanent and occasional workers are affected, as members of CUPE local 1358. They include educational assistants, early childhood educators and psychologists.
St. Michael's Adult Campus on Detroit Street in Windsor will remain open even if the rest of the Catholic board schools close.
In addition to the aforementioned school boards, the Conseil scolaire Viamonde — which represents the French first language schools in the Ontario Peninsula and the Greater Golden Horseshoe — said schools and classrooms would operate normally, even if the Oct. 7 strike moves forward.
The board represents schools in Windsor-Essex and Lambton County.
"Since the notice was given, we have put in motion various contingency measures in the event custodial and maintenance staff at Viamonde schools proceed with strike action. We would like to reiterate that while CUPE also represents administrative and educational support staff, this is not the case for our board," reads an excerpt from a Thursday media release.
Additionally, the Conseil scolaire catholique Providence — which manages southwestern Ontario's French-language Catholic schools — held an emergency meeting Thursday evening to discuss plans in the event of a strike, ultimately deciding to close all elementary and high schools under its jurisdiction if a strike materializes.
