Renewed strike threat has London parents bracing for possible school closures as early as Monday

Education workers and parents in London are once again bracing for possible school disruptions after labour leaders delivered the renewed threat of a strike on Wednesday that could force area schools to close their doors as early as Monday. 

The five-day notice was filed on Wednesday and means as of Monday, the province's 55,000 education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are poised to walk off the job for the second time this month, following a brief strike that crippled most local schools nearly two weeks ago. 

Negotiations between the union and the province are still underway, and local labour leaders said Wednesday the planned job action may not happen despite the five-day notice for a possible strike. 

"I think people need to remember that just because five days notice to strike is given does not seal the deal for a strike," said Rebecca Avey, president of CUPE Local 7575. 

"I personally think and hope that we can still get a fair negotiated deal. They have the time to do it. They're back at the table hopefully trying to negotiate a fair deal and that can still happen," she said. 

"I hope that they can do that and kids get to stay in school, and educational assistance and other educational workers in the province get to do what they love, which is go to work with their students."

The renewed labour tensions mean many parents are now scrambling to find alternate arrangements for their children. Business owner Tristin Morningstar said if the strike happens, she would have to take her nine-year-old daughter to work with her at London's Covent Garden Market. 

"Online school does not work for us at all," Morningstar said. "I have to serve customers the entire time and don't have time to sit with her and navigate her through a computer." 

"I just hope everyone can figure it out and come to an agreement and we can focus on our child's education and get everybody caught up."

Mother Katelyn Andrew said a strike would mean no childcare at all — because her two-year-old attends daycare inside a school. 

"It's very difficult having a newborn and a toddler, so that's why we kept him in daycare, to avoid that extra strain on our family."

While she's frustrated, she said she understands the challenges families may face and wants to see progress made at the bargaining table. 

"I believe in fair wages, and I believe that the schools deserve and need more supports within the school system. So I would like to see the government actually taking steps toward that," she said. 

"I hope that the union and the government are actually able to come to a fair deal… so that when my older and younger sons go off to school, they actually get the support that they need."