Toronto: Starting yesterday, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is engaging in a series of local meetings to prepare members for a work-to-rule strike action that begins on Tuesday, November 26, 2019. The action targets Ministry and school board administrative tasks and does not impact on students.
“We are making this known well in advance to assure parents that this strike action will not affect students, their learning or their safety,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond. “ETFO members will be withdrawing from Ministry and school board administrative activities, which will give them more time to focus on working with students.”
“Our goal is to turn up the heat on Premier Ford and his education minister, Stephen Lecce. It’s critical that they finally come to contract talks prepared to address the real issues of concern: more supports for students with special needs, the protection of Ontario’s Kindergarten program and critical issues like addressing violence in schools.”
Since June, ETFO has tabled these issues at central contract talks but the government has provided nothing but evasive non-answers, according to Hammond. Talks continued this week.
“Parents, teachers and education professionals know that the government’s agenda of cuts, not investment, in public education is harmful to our students’ education and future. We’re taking the legal steps available to us to get a better deal that supports our members and students and helps preserve Ontario’s world-class education system,” added Hammond.
“With an overwhelming strike mandate of 98% from voting members announced November 1, ETFO is mobilizing its teacher and education worker members for work-to-rule strike action in 12 days. We are holding meetings with school stewards across the province to ensure they are ready to take on leadership roles in their schools and worksites around work-to-rule.”
ETFO represents 83,000 elementary public school teachers, occasional teachers and education professionals across the province. Its Building Better Schools education agenda can be viewed at www.BuildingBetterSchools.ca.
It’s disappointing: Lecce
Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, said: “It is disappointing that ETFO has decided to escalate to a partial withdrawal of services, which hurts our kids, despite a limited number of outstanding items at the table.
“The Government and the Council of Trustees’ Association (CTA) have continued to table reasonable and expanded offers through the negotiation process, with only one interest in mind: landing a deal that keeps our kids in class.
“Furthermore, it is disheartening to see that ETFO has decided to specifically target several initiatives and resources designed to improve students’ confidence and knowledge in math. The singular victim of this escalation is our kids. Given that far too many students across the province continue to struggle with math, this move will clearly hurt students in, and beyond, the classroom.
“I stand with parents who know that labour action by unions hurts our students, and we will work to ensure students remain in the classroom.
“As I have always said, my negotiating team stands ready for meaningful, good faith bargaining 24/7, to reach the deals Ontario students and families deserve.”