Elementary teachers with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board could be on strike for two consecutive days next week if their provincial union doesn’t reach a new contract agreement with the Ontario government by the end of January.
On Monday, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) said it will escalate its rotating strikes across the province starting Monday, Feb. 3, if central agreements are not reached by the end of this month.
For schools under the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, a one-day strike is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 5. On Feb. 6, the ETFO is planning a strike by all of its 83,000 members across Ontario.
Elementary teachers with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board are also scheduled to stage a one-day strike on Tuesday of this week. All elementary schools and intermediate schools (Grades 7-8) within secondary schools will also closed. Friday is a scheduled PA day.
The board serves Peterborough, Peterborough County, Northumberland County and Clarington.
“We know that this is a hardship for parents but it is crystal clear that to date, Ford’s Education Minister Lecce is only interested in cuts to education,” stated teacher and KPR ETFO local president Shirley Bell.
“We are asking parents to stand with us to protect the future of public education. The programs we are fighting for today will have an impact on the education of students now and in the future.”
ETFO says in December it tabled revised proposals for smaller classes and more resources for youth with special needs but claims government negotiators have not responded and have not set any future dates for contract talks.
ETFO provincial first vice-president Karen Campbell will join KPR ETFO presidents to visit teachers on picket lines at schools in Newcastle and Port Hope and at Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith’s constituency office on Water St. in Peterborough.
“Since late December, Education Minister Lecce’s team has shown no interest in returning to contract talks to discuss key issues affecting students, student learning and educators,” stated occasional teacher local president Jen Deck. “A strike is the only means for educators to force the government to get serious about negotiations and the future of public education.”
In a statement to parents issued on Monday afternoon, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board says it will continue to closely monitor the teachers’ withdrawal of service and provide accurate and timely updates.
“We understand and appreciate that these are challenging and difficult days for everyone, and we remain hopeful that a provincial agreement can be reached soon,” the board stated.
A one-day strike is also set for Monday, Feb. 3 for schools under the Trillium Lakelands school boards, which include schools in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
ETFO’s rotating one-day strikes are as follows:
- Feb. 3: Trillium Lakelands, Bluewater, Grand Erie, Halton, Ontario North East, Renfrew County and Superior Greenstone school boards
- Feb. 4: Avon Maitland, Durham, Durham Catholic, Hastings-Prince Edward, Lambton Kent, Peel, Rainbow, Thames Valley and Upper Grand school boards and Campbell Children’s School Authority
- Feb. 5: Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Keewatin-Patricia, Lakehead, Near North, Ottawa-Carleton, Penetanguishene Protestant Separate, Rainy River, Simcoe County and Upper Canada school boards and Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre
- Feb. 6: All 83,000 ETFO members
- Feb 7: Algoma, Greater Essex County, Hamilton-Wentworth, Limestone, Niagara, Toronto, Toronto Catholic, Waterloo and York Region school boards as well as Bloorview, John McGivney Children’s Centre, KidsAbility, Moosonee, Moose Factory and Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre school authorities
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