Upcoming teachers’ strike to affect multiple school boards in Ontario

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Published January 18, 2020 at 4:55 pm

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Will you be affected by these upcoming strikes?

Citing a lack of cooperation from the provincial government, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has announced that rotating strikes will begin this Monday, January 20.

The school boards of Halton, Avon Maitland, Niagara, and Lakehead have been given the required five-day notice of a potential one-day walkout on Thursday, January 23.

The Peel District School Board and Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board are not expected to be impacted.

“In the 28 days since our last bargaining session on December 19, 2019, the Ford government and Minister Lecce have had ample time to return to contract talks with ETFO and they have chosen not to do so,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond.

“We have no choice but to commence rotating strikes starting this Monday as our only means of forcing the government to get serious about negotiations and the future of public education.”

The one-day walkout will happen on Thursday if a tentative agreement is not reached before then.

In the event of a walkout, the Halton District School Board (HDSB) says it will have no choice but to close elementary schools on Thursday for student safety.

HDSB secondary schools will remain open.

“It is crystal clear that the Ford government is only interested in cuts to public education. There has been little discussion on ETFO’s proposals for: smaller classes where students get the help they need; more resources for students with special needs; protection of our world-renowned Kindergarten program; and fair compensation for educators,” Hammond added.

“We are urging the Minister to get back to the table and discuss the critical issues that parents and educators care about.”

The ETFO represents 83,000 elementary public school teachers, occasional teachers, and education professionals across the province.

For more information on whether or not your school board will be impacted, you’re encouraged to visit your board’s websites and social media pages.

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