Hamilton high school teachers could stage walk out next week
Published January 10, 2020 at 8:12 pm
Hamilton’s public and Catholic high schools could be closed on Wednesday (Jan. 15) if the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) cannot reach a deal with the province by then.
Hamilton’s public and Catholic high schools could be closed on Wednesday (Jan. 15) if the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) cannot reach a deal with the province by then.
In a letter sent home to parents Friday (Jan. 10), the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) said that their board is among those affected by one-day strike action the OSSTF announced for next week.
“Secondary schools at HWDSB will need to close Wednesday, January 15. Elementary schools will be open,” the letter says.
On the same day, OSSTF/FEESO members in other school boards will hold information pickets in front of schools, at MPPs’ offices, and in other locations throughout the entire province.
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A limited withdrawal of services, which began on November 26, 2019, will continue province-wide.
“The Minister of Education continues to peddle the false narrative that this dispute is about compensation,” said OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof. “And yet, when we offered to call off our most recent job action in exchange for class size and staffing guarantees—issues entirely unrelated to compensation—the Ford government chose to reject that offer rather than keep students in classrooms.”
Bischof emphasized that OSSTF/FEESO is extending that same offer with regard to next Wednesday’s job actions.
“If the government agrees to return to, and maintain, the class size ratios and staffing levels that were in place just a year ago, we will call off our January 15 job action, and continue to bargain in good faith to resolve the many other outstanding issues,” he said.
All OSSTF/FEESO members employed by the following school boards will be engaged in the full withdrawal of services:
• Keewatin-Patricia District School Board
• District School Board Ontario North East
• Moose Factory Island District Area School Board
• James Bay Lowlands Secondary School Board
• Rainbow District School Board
• Bluewater District School Board
• Upper Grand District School Board
• Wellington Catholic District School Board
• Durham District School Board
• Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
• Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board
• Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
• Upper Canada District School Board
• Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Grandes Rivières
• Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien
• Provincial Schools Authority
The newest strike comes after months of unsuccessful negotiations between the province and multiple teachers’ unions.
Unions say they’re protesting education cuts, large class sizes, violence in schools and mandatory e-learning courses.
“We’re disappointed that talks continue to break down at the provincial negotiation tables. Locally, all of our HWDSB employees have a strong commitment to our students, said Board Chair Alex Johnstone. “Our commitment during this time of uncertainty is to ensure that the curriculum is delivered and that our students continue to learn in a safe environment. Our students deserve nothing less.”
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