Children’s aid workers in Ottawa reach tentative deal with province

Ottawa·Breaking

Workers with the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) walked off the job July 8 when contract negotiations broke down over complaints about what the union called a chronic lack of funding.

CASO workers went on strike July 8

A group of workers walk down a sidewalk holding signs and chanting.
Workers with the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa began walking the picket lines on July 8. (Joseph Tunney/ CBC)

A tentative deal has been reached between the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) and the provincial government that would put an end to a more than three-week strike.

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.

Many people sitting outside in a group.
A social media post by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union on Tuesday morning said a deal had been reached between children’s aid workers in Ottawa and the Ontario government the night before. (OPSEU/X)

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. OPSEU is holding a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

More to come.

With files from Jenna Legge and Isabel Harder

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