KAWARTHA LAKES-For the first time in 22 years public secondary school educators are on strike.
Educators will picket high schools including LCVI and the Lindsay Adult Education Centre, Fenelon Falls Secondary School, from 7-2:30 and Gravenhurst High School, BMLSS, Huntsville Secondary School and Haliburton Highlands Secondary School from 8-3:30 today.
OSSTF says their negotiators remained at the table right up to a midnight strike deadline but they accuse the Ford government and the Minister of Education Stephen Lecce of failing to bring a single proposal to the bargaining table.
Local OSSTF local president Colin Matthew says he is incredibly disappointed.
“Despite all evidence from the recently leaked parent consultation conducted by the Ford government indicating that 70% of parents don’t want larger classes for students and all quantitative data indicating the success of Ontario’s education system the Ford government remains tied to its positions on class sizes, mandatory e-learning and compensation that sees educators falling behind the cost of living in Ontario.” said Matthew in a press release this morning.
However the Minister of Education accuses the union of failing to negotiate.
“It has been over 200 days since we first started bargaining with OSSTF and in that time, they have not made any substantive moves since their first proposal was tabled.” Stephen Lecce said. “Even while the Government made enhanced offers, there is no indication OSSTF intends to make any moves, except to affirm their insistence on a $1.5 billion increase in pay and benefits.”
OSSTF represents 60,000 educators across the province.
All Secondary schools and Adult and Alternate Education Centre sites in Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) are closed to students today as a result of the strike. Secondary school teachers will return to work and schools will be open to students on Thursday, December 5, 2019.
Elementary schools are not affected by this announcement and will remain open.
“We understand that job action can be frustrating for students and their families. Updates will be provided to you as more information becomes available.” Said the school board in a press release this morning.
