Public school teachers represented by the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario hit the picket lines en masse in Ontario on Tuesday in their second province wide strike to put pressure on the government in contract talks.
One of the pickets was set up outside MPP Vic Fedeli’s office.

The local president of the Near North local Rob Hammond and education workers from the Near North Board were joined by provincial vice president Karen Campbell.

She told BayToday this dispute isn’t about money but education issues.

“Supports for students with special needs is very important for our members. In regards, to kindergarten the government has not made that commitment at the bargaining table and we need to have that,” Campbell says.

Fedeli for his part says the government has put forward reasonable proposals at the negotiating table, including a commitment to maintain full-day kindergarten and it is deeply disappointing parents are still seeing repeated escalation at the expense of students to advance higher compensation, including more generous benefit plans.

He says the government believes students should be in class, and it continues to stand ready to negotiate and reach a deal Ontario students deserve.

Campbell was asked why teachers are going out for just one day as opposed to a more longer term scenario.

“We want to put some pressure on the government but our members want to be in the classroom teaching students and this allows that to happen. We don’t want to impact students. It’s happening but it’s not what we want,” she says.

Meantime, the French Public School Board for Northeast Ontario says all of its schools will be closed to students on Thursday due to a one-day province-wide strike affecting French Board schools.

(photo by Chris Dawson BayToday)

Filed under: Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, MPP Vic Fedeli, strike