All of Ontario's public elementary school teachers are on strike Thursday, February 6.
The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario is holding a province wide walkout for all of its thousands of members. That means no elementary classes for students in K to 8 across the Avon-Maitland, Bluewater and Upper Grand District school boards today.
It's the latest in a series of job actions meant to turn up the pressure on the Ontario government during tense contract negotiations.
And looking ahead to next week rotating strikes and a province wide strike by ETFO members will affect local school boards on specific days and the dates listed below: Monday, February 10 and Tuesday, February 11 - Avon Maitland District School Board Monday, February 10 and Tuesday, February 11 - Upper Grand District School Board Tuesday, February 11 and Thursday, February 13 - Bluewater District School Board
Note that the rotating strikes are Monday and Thursday with the province wide strike on Tuesday, February 11.
In a response to Thursday's job action, the Ontario Ministry of Education put out a news release.
Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, stated, "Our government has put forward reasonable proposals at the negotiating table, including a commitment to maintain full-day kindergarten, and it is deeply disappointing parents are still seeing repeated escalation at the expense of our students to advance higher compensation, including more generous benefit plans. We firmly believe students should be in class, and we continue to stand ready to negotiate and reach a deal Ontario students deserve."