TORONTO — Striking school workers and the Toronto school board agreed to binding arbitration Friday, setting up the likely return to class of tens of thousands of students.
About 13,000 custodians, secretaries and teaching assistants are striking at 565 high schools and elementary schools under the Toronto District School Board.
About 300,000 students have been out of class since April 23, due to filthy conditions at most schools that forced the school board to shut them down.
When the strike began last month, schools remained opened as the workers picketed selected sites. The lack of custodial services in ensuing weeks, and vandalism that included dumping trash and pelting some buildings with eggs, caused schools to begin closing.
Officials said cleaning could begin Saturday and schools could reopen as early as Monday.
