ONTARIO – The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is condemning an announcement made by Ontario’s Education Minister Stepehen Lecce on Wednesday, Jan. 15 that the province would offer compensation for parents who’s children are out of school because of striking teachers.
ETFO teachers are currently planning a one day strike on Monday, Jan. 20 that will affect the Toronto, York Region and Ottawa-Carleton school boards.
“Our aim has always been to reach a negotiated settlement that keeps kids in class, which we have done successfully with multiple labour partners to date,” said Lecce. “We recognize the impact of union escalation on families is real, and unions expect hard-working families to bear the costs of their cyclical labour action. While unions impose hardship on families and students, our government is taking proactive steps to ensure students remain cared for — and families supported — in the event that unions decide to further escalate job action in their fight for enhanced compensation and other demands. The contrast could not be clearer.”
Lecce announced that the government would offer compensation for parents with children who are enrolled in public school up to Grade 7 or up to the age of 21 for students with special needs.
Parents with children aged 0-6 who are not yet enrolled in school but attend a school-based child care centre that is required to close on account of the strike are eligible to receive $60. Parents with students in Junior Kindergarten (JK) and Senior Kindergarten (SK) are eligible to receive $40 a day and $25 a day for students enrolled in public school from Grade 1 to 4.
Parents of students with special needs can receive compensation of $40 a day.
ETFO President Sam Hammond accused Lecce of trying to bribe parents instead of bargaining in good faith.
“This is a transparent attempt to bribe the public to support the government. Doug Ford’s Education Minister is trying to cover up the fact that this government is making massive cuts to public education and wants more cuts to elementary education at the bargaining table,” said Hammond. “For months, Minister Lecce has given his negotiators no mandate to address any key issues like class size, protection of the Kindergarten program and funding for special education. We understand the hardship that strike action creates for parents and that some will feel the financial pinch. We are asking that parents continue to stand with educators as we defend our children’s education now and in the future.”
