As their labour dispute with the province heats up, teachers at Ontario’s public elementary schools are poised to stage one-day strikes before the Christmas break.
In the GTA, teachers in school boards in Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel and York regions are set to hold a one-day walkout as early as Dec. 10.
Before a strike occurs in any school board, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario said it will give 72 hours’ notice to parents, who will be forced to make alternative child care arrangements if schools close.
David Clegg, president of public elementary school teachers in York Region, said teachers there will hold a one-day walkout the week of Dec. 10.
“Historically, the school boards have closed schools in similar situations,” Clegg told CP24 reporter Jackie Crandles. “There will be very few adults relative to the number of students at a school. It’s a school board decision but it’s very likely that may be one of the outcomes.”
Clegg expects some backlash from parents.
“It’s a difficult situation and I would understand why parents would be resentful,” he said. “One day out of school is one thing, but the legacy of bitterness that this government has created is something that will last much longer than that. That’s what’s really at stake here and that’s what I think (parents) should be concerned about.”
The ETFO strikes would likely be rolling or rotating strikes, starting Dec. 10 when teachers are in a legal strike position in all school boards.
Strikes would “affect operations in each public elementary school throughout the province,” the unions warn.
If teachers walk off the job, York Region District School Board has a contingency plan in place and would attempt to keep schools open if student safety was not at risk, CTV News’ Naomi Parness reports.
In a letter distributed to parents on Thursday, YRDSB said its goal is to “ensure student safety” is not compromised.
“At this time, these sanctions are not expected to disrupt normal school operations,” director of education Ken Thurston wrote in the letter. “Teachers will continue to maintain contact with parents regarding your child during the instructional day.”
High school teachers are considering the same job action.
Ken Coran, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, said union leaders are meeting to consider their options.
In addition to high school teachers, the OSSTF represents support staff who work in elementary schools.
Contract talks involving the OSSTF and school boards were suspended Thursday.
The threat of strikes is the latest salvo in public school teachers’ ongoing labour dispute with Ontario’s Liberal government.
On Thursday, Education Minister Laurel Broten said the province is ready to respond to the threat of strikes, but would not say if the teachers would be forced back to work.
Under Bill 115, the province has the power to stop strikes and lockouts by imposing a new collective agreement if settlements aren’t reached by Dec. 31, but teachers’ unions are challenging the legislation in court, arguing it is unconstitutional.
The controversial bill freezes the wages of teachers and support staff for two years.
ETFO officials said Broten can stop the strikes by repealing Bill 115.
With files from CP24 reporter George Lagogianes and The Canadian Press
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