A tentative deal has been reached between Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) workers and their employer that would put an end to a more than three-week strike, according to the union.
CASO workers went on strike July 8
A tentative deal has been reached between Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) workers and their employer that would put an end to a more than three-week strike, according to the union.
Workers walked off the job July 8 after contract negotiations broke down over complaints about what the union called a chronic lack of funding.
The workers have been without a contract since the end of 2023. On Tuesday morning, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) posted that a tentative deal had been reached Monday night.
During their strike, those who were on the picket line said their main priorities were securing pay increases that reflected the rising cost of living and protection from layoffs.
The union said that job protection was crucial in the wake of 20 planned job cuts — cuts it said would have had “catastrophic” consequences.
CASO has been operating with a more than $3 million deficit over the past couple years.
Clarifications
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A previous version of this story said a deal had been reached between striking workers and the province. Though the province funds and regulates the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa as a non-profit, the negotiations were between the workers and the society.
Jul 30, 2024 3:46 PM ET
With files from Jenna Legge and Isabel Harder