Public elementary school educators escalate strikes

“Elementary educators have a responsibility to stand up to this government. Educators are very aware that what we are fighting for today will have an impact on generations of students to come,” continued Hammond. “Contract talks are not being helped by Ford’s Education Minister Stephen Lecce making public announcements that misrepresent what his team is doing at the bargaining table. The disconnect is so great that we’re left shaking our heads. Minister Lecce claims in public that there will be no changes to the kindergarten model, but refuses to make that commitment during bargaining. The Minister claims salary is the main sticking point in bargaining, yet it’s been a topic that has received hardly any discussion over months of bargaining.”

The Press contacted the Ministry of Education for a response to these claims and received the following statement, made by Minister of Education Stephen Lecce, following the escalation:

“Families face union escalation far too often. It’s time for union leaders to end the games and the cyclical experience of escalation that hurts Ontario students. Union leaders promised that their escalation would not impact students and their learning. Regrettably, they have again broken that promise, however we will uphold our commitment to parents to stay at the bargaining table and work as hard as it takes to reach a deal that keeps students in class.

“We have delivered a ratified deal, and most recently a tentative deal, with education unions to date, and we are working to deliver further agreements that achieve our priority of keeping students in class.”

Should a deal not be reached, GEDSB noted that “a full withdrawal of services by ETFO members would result in the closure of all elementary schools to students. ETFO members in Grand Erie include all elementary teachers, occasional elementary teachers, and all designated early childhood educators.”

One-day full withdrawal of services and information pickets have been continuing on a rolling basis through different school boards from members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF). The most recent withdrawal was set to take place January 15, although GEDSB was not affected this time.

“The Minister of Education continues to peddle the false narrative that this dispute is about compensation,” said OSSTF President Harvey Bischof. “And yet, when we offered to call off our most recent job action in exchange for class size and staffing guarantees – issues entirely unrelated to compensation – the Ford government chose to reject that offer rather than keep students in classrooms.”

Bischof noted that had this offer to “return to, and maintain, the class size ratios and staffing levels that were in place just a year ago” been accepted, the January 15 withdrawal would have been called off while they “continue to bargain in good faith to resolve the many other outstanding issues.”

Lecce made the following statement in regards to the OSSTF strike: “For the fifth time, OSSTF union leaders have directed their members to not show up to class. These union leaders will forcefully advocate for the interests of their members – from higher wages to enhanced entitlements – however, they ought not oppose the academic aspirations of our students. Students should be in class. It is most concerning that teacher unions’ leaders disagree and continue to impede learning for the next generation. Our government is focused on landing deals that keep students in class so that we end the frustrating experience families face due to predictable union escalation. This continued strike action is unfair to students and their families.”

No deals had been reached as of press time on January 14. The Haldimand Press will post online any updates as they become available.