Toronto: Teachers and Education Workers represented by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) will engage in a one-day walkout today (Wednesday, December 18), in select school boards across the province.
The strike action is a result of the failure of the talks with Ontario government.
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, said a media release.
These actions follow a one-day, province-wide walkout on December 4, and a one-day walkout in select areas in Ontario on December 11. A limited withdrawal of services, which began on November 26, will continue province-wide.
“I am frustrated and disappointed by OSSTF’s actions at the negotiating table today [December 17]. They came forward today with no new proposals, no changes to their position, and no ideas on how to advance negotiations,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education.
“They continue to focus on further enhancements to their compensation package which, if applied to the sector, would cost approximately $1.5 billion. This focus was demonstrated just last week by their court challenge of legislation that deals with compensation increases for the public service,” he said.
“We have made a reasonable offer on compensation for the second highest paid educators in the country, as well as other enhancements to our initial offer to OSSTF. We are calling on OSSTF to put forward proposals to advance negotiations and cancel the needless job action which only hurts our students,” Lecce added.
ALSO READ: