GEDSB elementary schools to close February 3; schools across province to close February 6

By Haldimand Press Staff

HALDIMAND—On January 27, 2020 the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) announced that escalated job action, in the form of Phase 5 Work-to-Rule, will begin in school boards across the province on Monday, February 3.

During Phase 5 Job Action, ETFO members will not participate in extracurricular activities at any time. ETFO also announced that if a central agreement is not reached by Friday, January 31, it will continue its rotating, one-day, full withdrawal of services at select school boards and it will hold a province-wide, one-day, full withdrawal of services on Thursday, February 6.

For Grand Erie elementary students and families, this means schools will be closed to students on Monday, February 3 as well as Thursday, February 6 next week due to ETFO job action. In addition, report cards will not be sent out for Term 1.

“There is nothing to be gained by Minister Lecce avoiding meaningful and fair contract talks other than further damaging the reputation of the Ford government,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond in a statement. “Educators and parents are not going to accept the government’s deep cuts to public education that only serve to harm the quality of education for generations to come.”