ONTARIO – On Tuesday, Nov. 26, two public teachers unions will begin work-to-rule action as negotiations with the province and their employers drag on.
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) and the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) are both in legal strike position, but instead of an outright strike, they have elected to increase the pressure on their employers slowly.
OSSTF members as of Tuesday will begin informational pickets during lunch hour and will not supervise students during this time. They also will not participate in Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) testing preparation or administration, they will not complete or submit of Ministry of Education Data Reports or in any of the following:
- Participation in School Board Professional Activities that are based on Ministry of Education or School Board Initiatives
- Participation in unpaid staff meetings outside the regular school day
- Providing comments on any secondary provincial report cards
- Will not perform the work of another Bargaining Unit, even if directed by administration
“Doug Ford’s Minister of Education would have Ontarians believe that he’s eager to get to a deal,” said OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof. “But the bargaining process has been underway for months now, and through that entire time the government side of the table has willfully avoided any meaningful discussion of issues that are crucial to the quality of education in Ontario. They have simply refused to acknowledge the devastating effect that increased class sizes, mandatory e-learning, and the loss of thousands of teacher and support staff positions will have on the province’s students.”
The ETFO’s work-to-rule strategy is similar, with teachers not completing report cards or participate in Ministry of Education or school board activities.
