FOG BLOG NB NEWS LOG: KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL!

Parents relieved children are back in school, but it may take time to get back to routine...CUPE, New Brunswick government reach tentative deal to end strike that began more than two weeks ago....Parents in New Brunswick say they are relieved to have their children back in school Monday, after weeks of scrambling to adjust to online learning during a strike by school support staff and bus drivers.

More than 22,000 public-sector workers have either returned to work or will be back this week, after going on strike more than two weeks ago, largely over wage and pension issues. Schools closed and students moved to online learning after about 3,000 custodians, bus drivers, school library assistants and administrative support staff joined the strike Oct. 29.

During the strike, parents had to figure out child care while they worked, or had to take time off to be with their young children. But, on Sunday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the government of New Brunswick reached a tentative agreement on a contract.

"[It's] just as such a huge feeling of relief," said Vivien Zelazny, who has four young children, ages 11, nine, five and two, and is an assistant professor at Fredericton's St. Thomas University.

"The kids are so excited to be back to school, and that's going to be nice for us just to have a ... more normal week.".