A last minute agreement was made a few hours before the midnight deadline, averting a strike for schools across the province.
ONTARIO - Hundreds of elementary and high schools will be open this morning, and hundreds of thousands of students are expected in class as usual at schools in the Thames Valley District School Board and Catholic District School Board.
A strike set to begin at midnight by 55-thousand education workers -- including custodians, early childhood educators and clerical staff -- has been averted.
After a weekend of intense negotiating and just hours before the strike deadline, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced the government and the bargaining unit for the Canadian Union of Public Employees reached a tentative contract agreement.
At least two dozen school boards were prepared to close schools to ensure student safety.
The union says it was able to secure modest wage hikes and maintain its sick-leave plan, but won't say more until members vote on the deal.

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