Toronto: Ontario Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, yesterday insisted that the ongoing province-wide teachers strikes are all about pay rises.
“Our 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 our students to advance higher compensation, including more generous benefit plans,” Lecce said while responding to the job action escalation by Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO).
“We firmly believe students should be in class, and we continue to stand ready to negotiate and reach a deal Ontario students deserve,” he said in a statement issued to media.
On February 4, ETFO announced it will continue its strike action next week, having sent five-day notices to school boards and authorities across the province.
“ETFO’s 83,000 public elementary school educators will be on the picket lines again next week in the hope that the Ford government and Education Minister Lecce will return to talks prepared to support public education,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond.
“From ETFO’s perspective, fair contract talks must include: appropriate funding for Special Education; a strategy to address classroom violence; maintaining our internationally recognized Kindergarten program; and fair hiring practices.”
“Educators must have the tools and supports to prepare students to realize their individual aspirations and productively contribute to the economic and social fabric of this province,” added Hammond.
ETFO’s advised its rotating strikes will occur as follows:
February 10: One-day strikes in Avon Maitland, Durham, Durham Catholic (designated early childhood educators only), Halton, Hastings-Prince Edward, Lambton Kent, Rainbow, Thames Valley, Upper Canada and Upper Grand school boards and Campbell Children’s School Authority.
February 11: One-day strike of all 83,000 ETFO members.
February 12: One-day strikes in Algoma, Greater Essex, Limestone, Niagara, Renfrew County, Toronto, Toronto Catholic (designated early childhood educators only) and Waterloo school boards, Moosonee and Moose Factory District School Authorities and Bloorview, John McGivney Children’s Centre, KidsAbility and Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre School Authorities.
February 13: One-day strikes in Bluewater, Grand Erie, Hamilton-Wentworth, Keewatin-Patricia, Lakehead, Ontario North East, Ottawa-Carleton, Peel, Penetanguishene, Protestant Separate, Simcoe County, Superior-Greenstone, Trillium Lakelands and York Region School Boards, and Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre.
February 14: One-day strikes in Kawartha Pine Ridge, Near North and Rainy River School Boards.
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