Teachers and education workers represented by Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) will take part in a one-day, full withdrawal of services in selected locations across Ontario on Wednesday, December 11.
On the same day, OSSTF/FEESO members in other school boards will hold information pickets in front of schools, at MPPs’ offices, and in other locations throughout the province.
These actions follow a one-day, province-wide walkout on December 4. A limited withdrawal of services, which began on November 26, will continue province-wide.
“Even after it was confirmed that the government’s own public consultations reveal overwhelming opposition to Doug Ford’s education agenda, the government is still refusing to engage in serious discussions about mandatory e-learning, class size, staffing, or any other issue that affects the learning environments in our schools,” said OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof.
“We absolutely understand that our targeted job actions create a temporary disruption for the students and families affected. By contrast, the Doug Ford agenda, if it is allowed to be implemented, will create long-term disruption for students across the entire education system, and leave publicly-funded education in Ontario deeply and permanently damaged,” concluded Bischof.
Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, said: “Union leadership has made clear they will strike again unless we accept their demand for a $1.5 billion increase in compensation applied provincially, which includes pay and benefits. We value teachers and their commitment to our students. However, OSSTF teachers on average make over $92,000 per year and are the second highest paid in the nation.
“However, repeated escalation at the expense of our students’ education, to advance higher compensation, higher wages, and even more generous benefits, is unacceptable for parents and students in our province,” he said.
“We call on OSSTF to cease from escalation, stay at the table, and focus on improving learning in the classroom, not enhancing compensation for their members,” added Lecce.