As the contract deadline for the province's teachers and education workers looms, the government has inked a tentative deal with 55,000 education workers belonging to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

The deal, which will go to CUPE members for ratification Jan. 5, came about after an additional 30 hours of discussions, according to a Dec. 30 statement from Education Minister Laurel Broten. The province already had agreements with 55,000 teachers and more than 4,000 support staff.

“This last-minute agreement demonstrates that it is possible to find solutions when we remain focused on putting students first,” she said.

Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario, said in a press release that the province has created an unnecessary crisis, making things much more difficult at the bargaining table.

“It was the strength and support of our members, and the tireless work of our bargaining committee, that made this tentative agreement possible.”

He made it clear that CUPE remains opposed to Bill 115, legislation passed by the province in September which gives it the power to impose contracts on education workers.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation and the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario have not yet signed overarching deals with the province.

Broten has given the unions a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31 to come up with local deals with the province's school boards, after which time she has the power to impose contracts. She hasn't yet said whether or not she'll do so.

However, Broten did say in her statement that she'll “be available on Jan. 3, 2013 at 10 a.m. to discuss further details and the government's next steps to put students first.”