Strike ends tomorrow as Children's Aid Society of Toronto and their Emergency After Hours Staff workers take outstanding issues to arbitration

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 30, 2015) - After three months on the picket line, the strike between the Children's Aid Society of Toronto (CAST) and their Emergency After Hours Staff (EAHS) workers, members of Local 2316.1 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 2316.1), will end tomorrow.

The two sides have agreed to send all outstanding issues to a third party arbitrator.

"Our preference would have been to reach a negotiated settlement, but our members recognize how important it is to ensure at-risk children and their families get the supports they need, when they need them," said Aubrey Gonsalves, President of CUPE 2316.

Emergency After Hours Staff workers provide support to children and families in crisis outside of normal business hours. The members of CUPE 2316.1 walked off the job July 27 after spending more than two years trying to secure their first collective agreement.

Earlier this month, CAST proposed that the two sides agree to first contract arbitration, a process by which all unresolved issues are sent to an independent arbitrator.

"While we are disappointed we couldn't achieve a negotiated settlement, our members very much look forward to getting back to work to provide the vital services at-risk children and their families need," said Gonsalves.