Here is where CUPE is picketing in northeastern Ontario

Despite the Ontario government passing legislation Thursday making it illegal to strike, education workers locked in a bitter labour dispute with the province are walking out Friday in protest.

Tens of thousands of education support workers – including custodians, educational assistants, early childhood educators and administrative staff – announced they will strike "until further notice."

Education support workers walk the picket line in Sault Ste. Marie after negotiations with the province broke down. Nov. 4/22 (Mike McDonald/CTV Northern Ontario)

On Thursday, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) – which represents 8,000 education workers in the province – announced its members will walk of the job Friday in solidarity with CUPE.

OPSEU joins CUPE members on picket line on Barrydowne Road in Sudbury. Nov. 4/22 (Amanda Hicks/CTV Northern Ontario)

As a result of the strike, several school boards in the northeast region have decided to close in-person classes. Find the list of school boards here.

One of the main issues is pay. CUPE said on average, its members earn $39,000 per year. The union wants a $3.25 per hour increase, but the province is offering $0.33 to $0.53 per hour.

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Here is where members of CUPE will be picketing in northeastern Ontario Nov. 4:

• Blind River – 1385 Highway 17
• Chapleau – 20 Pine Street
• Elk Lake – 33 3rd Street
• Elliot Lake – NDP MPP Michael Mantha's office at 14 George Walk
• Englehart – 61 5th Avenue
• Espanola - 100 Tudhope Street
• Hearst – NDP MPP Guy Bourgouin's office at 631 Front Street
• Hornpayne – 68 Front Street
• Iroquois Falls – 253 Main Street
• Kapuskasing – NDP MPP Guy Bourgouin's office at 2 Ash Street
• Manitoulin Island – Esso at 6002 Corner Hwy 540 & 551 in M'Chigeeng
• Matheson – Intersection of Highways 11 and 101
• Moonbeam – 66 Leonard Avenue
• Moosonee – First Street, corner of the College Daycare
• New Liskeard – NDP MPP John Vanthof's office at 247 Whitewood Avenue West #5
• North Bay – PC MPP Vic Fedeli's office at 219 Main Street East
• Powassan – 520B Main Street
• Sault Ste. Marie – PC MPP Ross Romano's office at 390 Bay Street
• Sault Ste. Marie – City Hall at 99 Foster Drive
• Sables-Spanish River – 11 Birch Lake Road
• Sturgeon Falls - Timiskaming-Cochrane NDP MPP John Vanthof's office at 193 King Street in West Nipissing
• Sudbury - NDP MPP Jamie West's office at 555 Barrydowne Road
• Timmins – PC MPP George Pirie's office at 54 Waterloo Road
• White River – 102 Durham Street

Picketers stand on Barrydowne Road in Sudbury as CUPE education support workers across the province go on strike. Nov. 4/22 (Amanda Hicks/CTV Northern Ontario)

Read more about why the union is picketing here.

CTV News will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates.