Teachers’ unions move ahead with job action despite new government offer

Published March 5, 2020 at 12:28 pm

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Two of Ontario’s major teachers’ unions will go ahead with provincewide strikes today despite government movement during contentious contract talks.

Teachers in the province’s French and English Catholic school systems say they’re going ahead with plans to walk off the job in all schools.

Meanwhile some public high school teachers will also hold a walkout at nine school boards as part of their union’s ongoing series of rotating, one-day strikes.

The job action comes after the government capitulated on its earlier demands to increase class sizes and requirements for mandatory e-learning.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce has said the change should prompt all four major teachers’ unions to return to the bargaining table.

Union members from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association are planning a demonstration at the provincial legislature, which is set to get underway this morning.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario is not engaging in any strikes this week, but the union has said if contract deals aren’t reached by Friday, they will begin a new phase of strikes effective Monday.

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