Potential impact of CUPE strike to DC students Posted on October 4, 2019 at 11:45 am. As you may be aware, contract talks between the province, school boards and educational support staff represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are currently underway. In the event that an agreement isn’t reached, CUPE support staff workers may go on strike effective Monday, October 7, which could result in the closing of Ontario’s public and Catholic schools. In the event of school closures, some of you may be faced with having to find alternative childcare solutions, which undoubtedly will be stressful and may take time. We recognize that this could create challenges for some parents as they work to find alternative childcare arrangements. If you’re finding yourself in this situation, please speak with your professor as soon as possible to discuss options. The college is committed to supporting you. SHARE: