One-day strike for secondary school union Thursday, March 5

Today the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation announced its members at select school boards will participate in a one-day strike on Thursday, March 5.

Students in Grades 9-12 should not go to school that day. This strike does not affect students in JK-Grade 8.

A voicemail message is to go home to families of secondary school students by Monday, March 2. Messages are also posted to the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board’s Twitter and Instagram feeds at @HPEschools.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is urging the Ford government and its Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, to get back to the bargaining table so agreements can be reached that are good for students, educators and public education by Friday, March 6.

This week the ETFO began Phase 6 Strike Protocol where it plans to highlight long-standing concerns.

“That means our members will remain in schools and will follow their teaching, student supervision and preparation time schedules, as well as other scheduled duties. They will not fill in for absences that should be covered by occasional teachers and education workers, or upload data related to assessments,” stated Sam Hammond, ETFO President. “In addition, ETFO members will not be using their personal funds to pay for classroom and education-related expenses.”

The ETFO is asking the government to get back to the bargaining table and negotiate an agreement by Friday, March 6.

“The Ford government has an opportunity to ensure stability in elementary schools. If the government ignores this opportunity and chooses labour disruption instead, ETFO will move to its Phase 7 Strike Protocol on Monday, March 9, 2020.”