GUELPH – Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) elementary schools will be closed on Feb. 4 and 6 due to ongoing strike action.
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has conducted rotating strikes throughout the province since Jan. 20 and will continue to do so next week if no central agreements are reached.
Plus, all ETFO members across Ontario will conduct a one-day strike on Feb. 6.
“Teacher union leaders once again are breaking their promise to parents as they proceed with a full one-day withdrawal of services, province-wide,” said education minister Stephen Lecce in a Jan. 27 statement.
The first ETFO strike to impact the Upper Grand District School Board took place on Jan. 28.
ETFO represents elementary teachers and occasional teachers in the UGDSB. The board website specified that secondary schools will remain open and operate as usual on Feb. 4 and 6.
“There is nothing to be gained by … Lecce avoiding meaningful and fair contract talks other than further damaging the reputation of the Ford government,” said ETFO president Sam Hammond.
“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.”
Hammond says ETFO is striking to ensure appropriate funding for special education, a strategy to address classroom violence, maintaining the Kindergarten program, fair hiring practices, class sizes that meet the needs of elementary students, and compensation that keeps up with inflation.
In his statement Lecce said, “The consequences of union-led escalation are real, as families are forced to find child care on short notice.
“Repeated escalation at the expense of our students, to advance higher compensation, higher wages, and even more generous benefits, is unacceptable for parents and students in our province.
“We firmly believe students should be in class, which is why we continue to stand ready to negotiate to reach a deal Ontario students deserve.”
Hammond challenged Lecce and his negotiators on Jan. 27 to come back to the table to continue talks.
“It’s time that the Ford government recognized that our public education system is key to the future of this province’s economy,” he said. “We must have the tools and supports to prepare students to realize their individual aspirations and productively contribute to the economic and social fabric of this province.”
The February strikes will be the fourth and fifth school days public elementary students in Wellington County have missed due to strikes.
The Feb. 4 strike will also impact: Avon Maitland, Durham, Durham Catholic, Hastings-Prince Edward, Lambton Kent, Peel, Rainbow, Thames Valley and Upper Grand school boards and Campbell Children’s School Authority.
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