Ontario public high school teachers hold 3rd job action today

Ontario public high school teachers are hitting the picket lines today for their third job action this fall.

Education workers represented by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) will hold another one-day strike amidst the ongoing contract talks with the government.

According to the OSSTF, teachers and education workers in certain school boards across Ontario are participating in either a one-day, full withdrawal of services or information pickets in front of schools, at MPPs’ offices, and in other locations throughout the province.

• See also
  • Ontario high school teachers to stage third 1-day strike next week
  • Public high school teachers could hold another 1-day strike in Toronto next week

These actions follow a one-day, province-wide walkout on December 4, and a one-day walkout in select areas in Ontario on December 11. A limited withdrawal of services, which began on November 26, will continue province-wide.

“Since our last bargaining date on Tuesday, December 3, we have seen no change in the Minister of Education’s agenda of increasing class sizes, forcing e-learning on our high school students, and continuing the funding cuts that take valuable support staff and services out of our schools,” said OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof in a statement.

No matter the weather – #OSSTF members continue to take a stand against the cuts to education by @Sflecce & @fordnation. #NoCutsToEducation #onted #onpoli #solidarity https://t.co/p3cRYHXSxM

— Harvey Bischof (@HarveyBischof) December 17, 2019

“We hope that the Ford government is ready to negotiate a fair deal.  A deal that is good for students, good for education workers, good for teachers, and good for our province.  But if not, we’re ready to fight for their future, and we will use every tool available to us to do so,” said Bischof.

The following boards will be taking part in Wednesday’s job action:

• Lakehead District School Board
• Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board
• Lambton Kent District School Board
• Thames Valley District School Board
• Waterloo Region District School Board
• Waterloo Catholic District School Board
• York Region District School Board
• York Catholic District School Board
• Halton District School Board
• Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board

Wednesday’s job action comes as the union continues to press the Ontario government to reverse its increase to class size and mandatory e-learning requirements.