Pickets are going up in front of high Schools in the Rainy River district and across Ontario today.
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation is holding a one-day strike in an effort to put pressure on the government for a new contract.
President Harvey Bischof says after four days of talks, they’ve seen nothing concrete at the table that addresses their concerns.
“Not a single proposal to protect class sizes, not a single proposal to ensure students have access to the support staff but some of them require to be successful,” says Bischof.
The OSSTF/FEESO negotiating team remained at the table until midnight, but an agreement has not been reached. #osstf #onted #onpoli #NoCutsToEducation #fairdealnow
Posted by Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) on Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Bischof acknowledges the disruption the strike will have on students and parents but says it won’t be as great if the government is allowed to proceed with its cuts.
The union says class size and e-learning are at the heart of the dispute.
Ontario’s Education Minister Stephen Lecce insists it’s money preventing a deal.
He also continues to push for the inclusion of an independent third-party mediator to be involved in the bargaining.
“How is it possible for parents watching today that their children may be out of class when you know and we know that there is a viable pathway to get a deal through an independent mediator that at least they can help bridge the gap,” says Lecce.
203 days and counting…OSSTF has yet to make any significant moves at the table. It takes two to tango to keep kids in class.#StrikesHurtKids
Posted by Stephen Lecce on Monday, December 2, 2019
While high school teachers in the Rainy River are on strike, not all students attending classes at high schools are impacted.
The Rainy River District School Board notes schools are still open for grade 7 and 8 students whose classes are at secondary schools.
School buses for grade 9-12 students aren’t running but are still operating for the elementary students.
The Board adds all school events and extra-curricular activities planned at high schools today have been postponed, rescheduled or cancelled.
Confederation College is also caught in the middle of the high school teachers’ one-day strike.
Its campus in Fort Frances is next to Fort High.
College officials say the campus will be open with classes and any tests and exams going ahead as planned.
The College says if students are uncomfortable about crossing the picket line, they can make arrangements for other learning options.