It appears that the Ford government and the union representing education workers in Ontario are on a collision course on Thursday, as the government prepares to pass dramatic anti-strike legislation and labor groups prepare for a day of demonstrations on Friday. Letchi also told CP24 in an interview on Thursday: "They have not refused to withdraw this strike, and as such, we have no choice but to introduce this law, which may be passed this afternoon, aimed at avoiding the strike and creating some stability."

Also, about 55,000 employees in the education sector in Ontario - including custodians, administrative staff, and educational support staff - represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are scheduled to leave their jobs on Friday, despite the fact that the strike will most likely be illegal.

Earlier this week, Letchi introduced a law that would prevent workers from striking and impose a four-year contract. In the legislation, the Keeping Students in Class Act, the government said it would use a notwithstanding clause - a rarely used clause in the Canadian Constitution - to override any potential challenge to the law on the grounds that it violates workers' Charter rights.

The law is expected to be passed in the legislature by a majority of MPs in Queen's Park on Thursday afternoon. Also, the bill will impose a four-year contract that includes a 2.5 percent pay increase for those earning less than $43,000 annually and a 1.5 percent increase for all other employees.

CUPE is demanding an 11.7 percent increase, equivalent to an additional $3.25 per hour, overall.