Ontario public high school teachers to hold one-day strike on January 8

Teachers and education workers in select school boards, represented by Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO), will participate in a one-day strike next week.

The full withdrawal of services will take place on Wednesday, January 8, while OSSTF/FEESO members in other school boards hold information pickets in front of schools, at MPPs’ offices, and in other locations throughout the province.

A limited withdrawal of services that began November 26, will continue across Ontario, as part of the OSSTF/FEESO work-to-rule strike action. All OSSTF/FEESO members employed by the following school boards will be engaged in the full withdrawal of services:

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

“After more than eight months of negotiations, the Minister of Education is still committed to the Doug Ford agenda of larger class sizes, mandatory e-learning, and the ongoing erosion of crucial supports and services our most vulnerable students rely on for an equitable chance to succeed,” said OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof in a release.

“Our job action next Wednesday will affect some school boards for one day, but the Ford government’s policies, if we are not able to reverse them, will continue to create chaos in the education system for years to come,” Bischof said.

“Ontario students deserve better, and that is exactly what we’re fighting for.”

• See also:
  • Ontario elementary teachers to officially begin work-to-rule strike action
  • Ontario students will be required to take 2 online credits to graduate high school
  • 95% of Ontario high school teachers vote in favour of strike action

Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Education, said the continued strike action is unfair to students.

“Parents have been clear: strikes by unions hurt kids and investments should go to support student success, not towards enhanced compensation,” Lecce said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

“We agree with Ontario parents. 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.”

With files from Ainsley Smith.