SUDBURY, ON – It appears classes are off for students in the Rainbox District in Sudbury.
District 3, Rainbow, of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) report that negotiations with the Rainbow District School Board have failed to result in an agreement and high school teachers and occasional teachers will be on strike as of Monday, April 27.
The employer’s refusal to engage in real negotiations today has made it clear that job action is inevitable. With this in mind, and out of respect for our members, parents, and students, the union is announcing Monday’s strike action now so preparations for the closure of schools can be made.
“Our teachers would prefer to be in class with their students than on picket lines”, stated James Clyke, District 3 President. “But this employer’s unwillingness to negotiate in any meaningful way has really left us no option. It is clear that this board has completely allied itself with the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) plan to frustrate bargaining at local tables. It leaves us questioning whose interests they’re really serving with this approach.”
“While the Rainbow District School Board has continuously proclaimed that they ‘value and respect their secondary teachers’ it has shown no willingness to bargain, to exchange positions, to entertain counter-proposals, or seriously consider any of the priorities presented by District 3 on behalf of its members. Under these circumstances, disruption could not be avoided,” said Harvey Bischof, OSSTF/FEESO Vice President and chair of the local negotiations team.
