Toronto: Some 60,000-strong secondary teachers union and another 12,000-strong French teachers union yesterday announced intensified strike action — even as embattled Ontario education minister called for ‘meaningful’ talks but did not offer any new concessions.
The Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO) and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), both announced walk-outs on Thursday, February 13.
“Continued escalation of job action by the teachers’ unions has gone on far too long. Students across the province are being hurt by the withdrawal of services and loss of classroom time, said Minister Stephen Lecce in an issued statement.
“Parents expect all parties to meet at the negotiating table and have meaningful, student-centric discussions. I call on union leadership to continue to work with us, in good-faith, to end these strikes, and focus on reaching a deal that keeps our students in the classroom where they belong,” he added.
OSSTF said the February 13 walk-out will be in certain school boards in selected locations across Ontario.
“OSSTF/FEESO members in other school boards across the province will continue to engage in activities that draw attention to the dangers of the Ford government’s education agenda. A limited withdrawal of services, which has been in place since November, will continue province-wide,” said a stement.
Maintain 2018-19 levels
OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof has repeated the Federation’s standing offer to postpone pending job actions if the government agrees to return to, and maintain, the class size ratios and staffing levels that were in place in Ontario schools during the 2018-2019 school year.
“We continue to take an approach designed to raise awareness of the issues while causing minimum disruption to learning,” said Bischof. “Sadly, our measured approach stands in stark contrast to the almost-daily stream of inflammatory statements and disinformation from the Minister of Education,” said Bischof.
AEFO yesterday announced phase 3 of its strike. It consists of a day of walkouts across the province, every week. The first day of walkouts is scheduled for February 13.