CUPE has given the mediator tasked with bridging the gap between the education workers' union and the Ontario government a new offer, but the government hasn't seen it yet, a government source told QP Briefing late on Tuesday afternoon.

CUPE's central bargaining committee and government representatives have been holed up at the Sheraton hotel in downtown Toronto for hours. The two sides are in separate rooms with the mediator going in between, in what's known as "shuttle negotiating."

The government believes it may formally receive the new offer sometime Tuesday night.

The negotiations fell apart on Sunday after CUPE gave five-day notice of a strike, which would force many schools to close in-person learning. CUPE represents some 55,000 education support staff, early childhood educators, custodians, librarians, and more.

Responding on Monday, Education Minister Stephen Lecce tabled legislation to overrule the constitution, imposing a contract and outlawing a strike.

The union is looking for annual 11.7 per cent raises. The government’s latest offer, which is set to be imposed on CUPE workers through Lecce's bill, is a four-year contract with 2.5 per cent annual raises for those earning less than $43,000 and 1.5 per cent for everyone else.

Originally, the government offered two per cent annual raises for all CUPE workers making less than $40,000 and a 1.25 per cent raise for all others.

More to come.

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