Ontario Catholic school teachers to hold province-wide strike on March 5

OECTA called off a scheduled strike in favour of negotiation last week

Yorkregion.com
February 28, 2020
Dina Al-Shibeeb

After accusing Minister of Education Stephen Lecce for what they characterized as his “attempt to mislead the public,” the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association decided Thursday to schedule a province-wide walkout on March 5.

“Teachers in publicly funded Catholic district school boards across Ontario will not be reporting to work or performing any of their teaching duties,” OECTA said in a statement.

OECTA called off a scheduled strike in favour of negotiation last week.

"Instead of coming to the table with a plan to reach an agreement, the government continued to insist on its deep, permanent cuts,” OECTA President Liz Stuart said.

'Computers can't motivate': Teachers reiterate demands as historic strike shuts schools
“All the while, the Minister of Education has continued his attempts to mislead the public, by making baseless accusations against Catholic teachers and our association, and by peddling the inaccurate claim that enhancements to our benefits plan is the sticking point in bargaining,” adds Stuart.

Stuart also announced that as a result of an OECTA complaint before Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB), the “full” disclosure of the government’s “largest ever” education consultation will become available.

Last year, Ontario conducted its “historic” consultation, but never made parents’ feedback on increased class sizes public. Findings show that the majority of parents rejected any bids to increase class sizes.