Labour board hearing concludes as poll suggests most Ontarians blame Ford for school closures

A hearing at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) to determine the legality of a strike by education workers has concluded after three days of arguments between lawyers for the provincial government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

OLRB chair Brian O'Byrne says he hopes to render a decision before the school week begins tomorrow, but he's not sure it can be done.

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Meanwhile, Ontario residents appear to be placing blame on Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative government for the contract dispute, according to a new public opinion poll released Sunday.

The online poll from Abacus Data found that 62 per cent of respondents blame the provincial government for schools closing after education workers walked off the job Friday. Thirty-eight per cent point the finger at the workers.

Sixty-eight per cent of parents of school-aged children believe the Ford government bears the most responsibility, the survey found, while 71 per cent of respondents want the province to negotiate a "fair deal" with education workers, rather than continue with its current strategy.


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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-cupe-strike-labour-board-hearing-1.6642374