Premier Wynne greeted by striking teachers on Sudbury visit

Premier Kathleen Wynne addressed a room full of municipal leaders in Sudbury Thursday morning, while one of the major issues facing her government sparked a protest outside on the sidewalk.

Some 250 striking English public high school teachers rallied outside the Holiday Inn during Wynne's speech, urging herto help advance their negotiations with the Rainbow DistrictSchool Board, so they can get back to the classroom.

"Let's goWynne, negotiate! Let's goWynne," they chanted.

JamesClyke, the president of the local branch of theOntario Secondary School Teachers Federation, said the talks with the board have come to a halt.

"What we're trying to do is bring some attention to that and we thought coming here and putting some pressure on thepremier might break some of that," he said, adding that the union has made an array of proposals to the local school board, but hasn't received a response.

Clyke said hemet withWynnebefore her speech at the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities conference.Sotoo did a handful of striking teachers, whoalso identified themselves asWynnesupporters.

R.J.Zadow-Royleft the protest to take her picture with the premier.

"She rolled down her window. I said 'I believe in you or we believe in you,' she goes 'We believe in you and we're hoping to get it settled,'" she said.

Inside the hotel, speaking to mayors and municipal councillors from across the region, Wynnesaid she too wants to see an end to the labour strife in Ontario schools. She added, sheisn't sure how long that will take, especially asthere is no new money for public sector increases.

"We are committed to reaching a negotiated settlement," she said.