Talks to resume on Thursday in Durham Region’s inside workers strike

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OSHAWA, Ontario — Contract talks are to resume Thursday between Durham Region and the union representing its striking inside workers.

Workers voted Saturday by a 52 per cent margin to reject the municipality’s latest offer and continue their strike.

Some 1,600 Canadian Union of Public Employees members walked off the job last week, citing Durham’s demands for concessions over the sick leave benefits of emergency medical services workers.

The workers on strike include those providing child care, income support, court services, public health inspections and traffic operations.

Paramedics are required to keep working during the strike because they’ve been deemed an essential service.

There are closures or reduced service at the region’s day cares, provincial court office, Ontario Works program and environmental health offices but other services, such as curbside waste collection, are continuing.

The workers last contract expired March 31.