Elementary teachers union threatens rotating strikes in October if deal not reached

TORONTO – The union representing Ontario’s elementary school teachers and education professionals says its members will escalate work-to-rule strike action as of Monday and rotating strikes are possible if a contract deal isn’t reached by October.

A source from the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) tells Global News work-to-rule action will include teachers not filling in for other teachers when they are away, not responding to communications from administrators on the phone or electronically and not providing comments on report cards.

If progress isn’t made by October, teachers will start rotating one-day strikes.

“Teachers will continue to do our job, teaching our children and keeping them safe,” said the source. “Hopefully this will bring pressure on the Ontario Public School Boards association and the Ontario government to return to the table.”

A document outlining the latest job action is going out to union members on Friday.

Talks between the province, school boards and the ETFO broke off again a week ago.

READ MORE: Talks fail between elementary teachers’ union and school board association: ETFO

ETFO president Sam Hammond expressed shock earlier this week saying the parties were making progress in negotiations, albeit slowly.

Hammond said at a news conference Monday afternoon the province’s approach to a labour deal as a “cookie-cutter” plan designed solely to bolster Liberal election hopes.

Wynne said Monday the offer to the elementary teachers is essentially the same as that tentatively accepted by the unions representing Catholic and high school teachers.

With a file from Adam Miller