The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) has joined a long list of Ontario school boards that will be closing facilities to students on Monday unless the province comes to an agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
The HWCDSB said it “carefully reviewed” all contingencies in the event of a strike and said the closures were due to “student safety.”
The board didn’t specify whether other programs and services would be closed as well.
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board said on Thursday its schools will remain open despite a looming strike by its thousands of education workers.
The board says schools will open 15 minutes before bell time and will close 15 minutes after the final bell.
Extra-curricular activities will be cancelled until further notice but school trips will continue.
At least a half dozen other school boards across the province have also indicated they will close schools if workers strike.
The District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) says all elementary and high schools will be closed should CUPE workers strike Monday citing safety concerns as the primary reason for the shutdown.
The DSBN calling on parents to make alternate care arrangements for their children. Childcare services in the schools will continue for those students already registered.
Meanwhile, the Niagara Catholic District School Board says it will also close all elementary, secondary, and alternative and continuing education schools on Monday, Oct. 7, if CUPE begins strike action as scheduled.
Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board says their schools will remain open during any work action as support staff are not members of CUPE.
The Grand Erie board says all elementary and secondary schools in Brantford and Brant, Norfolk and Haldimand counties will be closed Monday.
Halton Catholic District School Board will close on Monday, October 7th, and for the duration of any strike.
Both Peel and York school boards have told parents that if the labour disruption occurs, its schools will not open because the school boards cannot ensure student safety in the event of a strike.
CUPE , which represents 55,000 custodians, clerical workers and early childhood educators in Ontario, gave strike notice on Wednesday, saying it plans to begin a work-to-rule campaign on Monday.
Negotiations with the province and school boards continue on Friday.
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