London (ON) Free Press: Union leaders back job action plan

The London Free Press reports that union leaders representing 55,000 Ontario education workers have endorsed a job action plan, the first step in a process that could result in a strike as the union's contract comes to an end August 31st.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents non-teacher workers such as library workers, custodians, secretaries, and early childhood educators among others, says there will be no work stoppage before the school year begins.

However, with 500 jobs lost since June while hours are being reduced, full time positions eliminated, and work years being reduced the CUPE is preparing to go to the mat for its members.

Negotiations will continue, and CUPE has filed for conciliation, but strike authorization votes will be taking place in the first two weeks of September to determine support among membership if talks continue to go nowhere.