Niagara Catholic school board will shut down schools Friday if CUPE members walk

The Niagara Catholic District School Board just announced that it will shut down schools on Friday (November 4) if CUPE education workers decide to walk.

Earlier today (November 1), both the NCDSB and District School Board of Niagara said they were playing it day-to-day regarding potential protests on Friday.

The DSBN is still made no official announcement beyond that.

“As we wait for the outcome from the province, we will be keeping you up to date with new information as we receive it, including what will be happening on Friday, November 4,” said Warren Hoshizaki, DSBN Director of Education, this morning.

On October 31, the province’s education minister, Stephen Lecce, introduced a bill called “Keeping Students in Class Act,” looking to block a planned strike by school support workers.

CUPE is balking at the legislation, saying if passed, it will also impose a low-paying four-year contract for workers.

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The two sides are lightyears apart with the province offering an annual 2.5 per cent wage bump for employees earning less than $43,000 and 1.5 per cent for workers earning more than that amount.

CUPE, the union representing 55,000 school support staff, including custodians, education and administrative staff, is pushing for an annual wage increase of 11.7 per cent. They have threatened province-wide walkouts by teachers and support staff should the legislation be passed on Thursday.