The union representing Ontario's education workers says its members have voted to accept a new contract with the provincial government.
The 55,000 workers narrowly avoided a strike in early October when the CUPE bargaining team reached a tentative deal with the province.
The union says 79 per cent of its members voted in favour of the new contract.
Speaking on AM800's the Morning Drive, CUPE's Ontario School Board Council of Unions President Laura Walton says the vote was higher than she expected.
"We need to make it clear that, it was not a deal that was unanimously ratified throughout the province which I think really signals that there is much work that needs to be done," says Walton.
Walton adds there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.
"One of the things that is very clear to me is that this was a deal that was struck because we came together as a community, not just our members, but parents, and the public came together and said this is important."
Walton also believes the deal helps to improve education supports in the school.
"So the fact that we were able to get an investment of over $70-million a year into the services that our students need, is one of the reasons why the deal was ratified," says Walton.
The workers include custodians, early childhood educators and clerical staff.
Under the deal, the workers would get a one per cent wage increase.
At the Greater Essex County District School Board, CUPE members consist of 550 custodians, maintenance, clerical and information technology staff.
At the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, educational assistants voted 83 per cent in favour while early childhood educators and other professionals with CUPE local 1358, voted 92 per cent in favour.
With files from the Canadian Press