Catholic school board preparing for another potential CUPE strike

It's a bit of deja vu for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board as it prepares for another potential strike by education support workers. 

CUPE filed a five-day strike notice Wednesday morning after bargaining talks with the province broke down again. 

It comes after previous job action by union members was paused when both parties agreed to resume negotiations. 

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) said there are still upcoming bargaining dates scheduled between the union and the government, including over the weekend. 

A post on the WCDSB website said, “It is our hope that a deal will be reached before Monday's strike date and kids can come to school as normal.”

There are more than 1,200 staff represented by CUPE in English-speaking Catholic schools. French-language Catholic schools in the region would also be impacted. 

Students attending WCDSB schools would be given devices ahead of any strike action so they can learn remotely, as those schools would be forced to close. 

St. Louis Adult Learning classes would be able to continue in the event of a strike but St. Louis site offices would also be closed.

A CUPE strike would not impact Waterloo Region public schools.