Elementary teachers plan ‘strike action’ starting Monday

Yorkregion.com
May 5, 2015
By Lisa Queen

Ontario’s 73,000 public elementary teachers, including 5,000 in York Region, are preparing to begin “strike action” beginning Monday, the president of York local of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario said Tuesday morning.

“Unfortunately, it looks like we will be having some (labour) problems coming up in the near future,” David Clegg said.

He would not reveal what job action will take place until he gets a chance to talk to union representatives later today, but it is expected teachers will begin with a work-to-rule campaign.

That is expected to initially affect administrative duties, such as refusing to participate in EQAO standardized tests, but it is believed extracurricular activities will be spared in the early days of any labour unrest.

There are more than 817,000 elementary students in the province who would be affected by any job action, including about 68,000 in York Region.

Elementary teachers have been without a contract since Aug. 31.

The union is upset with a government demand that would extend a wage freeze and with a plan that would give principals the ability to direct what teachers do during their prep time, which insults teachers’ professionalism, Clegg said.