Ontario public high school teachers announce another 1-day strike

The union representing Ontario public high school teachers has announced its members will stage another one-day strike in certain locations next Wednesday to put pressure on the province to resume contract talks.

In a Friday news release, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF)says the job action will affect eight English school boards, the largest of which is thePeel District School Board.

A full withdrawal of services will occur at the following boards should the union not reach a deal with the provincial government before the date:

• Algoma District School Board
• Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board
• Greater Essex County District School Board
• Avon Maitland District School Board
• District School Board of Niagara
• Limestone District School Board
• Renfrew County District School Board

The job action will affect a large number of French schoolsas well.

Harvey Bischof, OSSTF's president, said in the releasethat the teachers are staging the job action over concernsabout larger class sizes, mandatory e-learning and education funding cuts being implemented by Doug Ford'sgovernment.

"As a new year begins, we hope the Ford government and the Minister of Education will finally be prepared to do the right thing and negotiate a deal that is good for students, good for teachers and education workers, and good for the future economy of Ontario," Bischof said.

Contract talks broke off on Dec. 16. At the time, a spokesperson for theOntario Public School Boards' Association said negotiations were expected to resume in January.

In a statementon Friday, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce criticized the union for announcing the action.

"Parents have been clear: strikes by unions hurt kids and that investments should go to support student success, not toward enhanced compensation. We agree with Ontario parents,"Lecce said in the statement.

"This is why we will continue to vigorously champion the interests of students and seek stability for parents in 2020, who are frustrated and tired of the union-led escalation that began in 2019. This continued strike action is unfair to students and their families."

Bischofreplied thatthe cuts to education, support staff and course options are unfair.

"What I hope is that, by the time we get back to the table, this government has stepped back and reconsidered itsagenda of eroding the quality of education," Bischof said.

"AndI hopethey listen to what the parents have told them and come to the table with new issues that will support the quality of education."

According to the union and the Ontario education ministry, no new dates have been scheduled for bargaining to resume.

The latest labour action follows one-day walkouts by the union on Dec.4, 11 and 18.

In addition to public high school teachers, the OSSTF represents occasional teachers, educational assistants, continuing education teachers and instructors, early childhood educators, psychologists, secretaries, speech-language pathologists, social workers, plant support staff and university support staff.