THUNDER BAY – On Wednesday, January 8, teachers and education workers represented by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) in certain school boards will take part in another one-day, full withdrawal of services in selected locations across Ontario.
Northern Ontario school boards are going to be the target of this one-day action. This includes the Lakehead Board of Education schools.
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 entire province.
A limited withdrawal of services, which began on November 26, 2019, will continue province-wide.
“After more than eight months of negotiations, the Minister of Education is still committed to the Doug Ford agenda of larger class sizes, mandatory e-learning, and the ongoing erosion of crucial supports and services our most vulnerable students rely on for an equitable chance to succeed,” said OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof.
“Our job action next Wednesday will affect some school boards for one day, but the Ford government’s policies, if we are not able to reverse them, will continue to create chaos in the education system for years to come. Ontario students deserve better, and that is exactly what we’re fighting for,” Bischof said.
“As a new year begins, we hope the Ford government and the Minister of Education will finally be prepared to do the right thing and negotiate a deal that is good for students, good for teachers and education workers, and good for the future economy of Ontario,” concluded Bischof.
Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, issued the following statement in response to the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) announcement of another one-day strike:
“Parents have been clear: strikes by unions hurt kids and investments should go to support student success, not towards enhanced compensation.
We agree with Ontario’s parents. This is why we will continue to vigorously champion the interests of students and seek stability for parents in 2020, who are frustrated and tired of the union-led escalation that began in 2019. This continued strike action is unfair to students and their families.”
Official Opposition NDP Leader Andrea Horwath released the following statement in response to news that teachers and education workers at many public schools will hold another one-day strike at select boards on Wednesday, January 8, 2020:
“It’s shameful that Doug Ford is digging in his heels on his plan to fire thousands of teachers, cram more kids into classrooms, and force mandatory courses online. The students who will lose another day of school on Wednesday continue to pay the price as pawns in the fight Ford picked with teachers. It’s time for Ford to fully reverse his devastating education cuts, so the two sides can bargain a deal and get everyone back to class.”
