https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/11/03/cupe-strike-heres-everything-you-need-to-know.html

CUPE strike: Here’s everything you need to know

From why Ontario education workers are striking to if schools are open or closed, this is what you need to know.

Ontario’s school support workers are poised to walk off the job Friday after talks collapsed between the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Ontario government. Here’s everything you need to know.

Who are the education workers?

CUPE education workers include educational assistants, custodians, school secretaries, designated early childhood educators, professionals, informational technology workers, maintenance workers, library staff and others.

According to the union, more than 70 per cent of the 55,000 workers are women and more than half work at least one additional job to make ends meet.

Why was the strike called?

The union called for the job action after the government introduced back-to-work legislation — the Keeping Students in Class Act — that included the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause to override the Charter of Rights — and despite the hefty fines that could come with such a strike.

Education workers represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) are also being encouraged by their union to walk off the job in solidarity on Friday. Other unions in the province have also publicly supported CUPE.