The union representing Ontario's elementary teachers will begin rotating strikes on January 20 if the province doesn't address critical issues in negotiations.
The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario announced on Thursday afternoon that it is escalating its job action as it continues to try to get a new contract with the Ontario government. ETFO said that its members will stop supervising extra-curricular activities and taking part in field trips as of Monday, January 13.
“In six months of contract talks, the Ford government’s education minister has given his negotiators no mandate to discuss anything other than cuts to education including a $150 million cut to public elementary education,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond. “That’s why there has been negligible progress on substantive issues like supports for Special Education, protecting the Kindergarten model, addressing classroom-based violence and compensation that keeps up with the cost of inflation.”
ETFO has given the government a deadline of January 17 to address what it calls "critical issues" in bargaining. If the government does not, the rotating strikes will begin three days later. The union also said that its members will not arrive to work any earlier than 30 minutes before classes start and will leave within 15 minutes of the end of class. They will not plan or participate in any assemblies except to provide supervision to students.
“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,” Hammond said.
The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario represents 83,000 elementary public school teachers, occasional teachers, and education professionals across the province.