Classrooms Are Empty Today As Picketing Continues

Wednesday, 22 January 2020 08:27

Public Elementary schools in Thames Valley are closed to students today as teachers stage a one day strike. In Woodstock they will be picketing at the Central Public School and Ernie Hardeman's offices.

OXFORD COUNTY - Elementary teachers in Thames Valley will be hitting the picket lines today, meaning public elementary schools will be closed to students in Oxford County.

In Woodstock teachers will be picketing at the Central Public School and MPP Ernie Hardeman's office. Teachers in Oxford County will also be picketing at the Thamesford Public School, Royal Roads in Ingersoll and at Annondale in Tillsonburg.

Local President of ETFO Thames Valley Craig Smith says talks with the Province have completely broken down.

"The problem at the Central table where the provincial negotiations are happening, while I think that ETFO has been ready to negotiate on any of the 80 days since the contract expired, it is the Government who has shown an unwillingness to bargain, not only in good faith but at all."

Smith says the biggest issues for teachers remain class sizes, e-learning and protecting full day kindergarten.

"It is a situation that I wish we weren't in but I think we are compelled, given the scope of what the Government has proposed over time to cut out of the public education system, we have to take this necessary step. From our perspective, the short term inconvenience and pain that may be derived from this is nothing compared to what will be in place if cuts that are proposed take effect. It is not good for students and not good for classrooms, so I think we are kind of in a position where we have to do this to put pressure on the Government and get them back to the bargaining table."

Local MPP Ernie Hardeman released a statement regarding the labour disruption. Hardeman says that while parents in Oxford are frustrated by teacher union escalation every few years, it is unacceptable that union leaders would ramp up strike action and make families across the province scramble for childcare.

“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. That’s why our government launched its Support for Parents initiative that puts money directly into the pockets of parents. The immense uptake of our Support for Parents initiative speaks volumes to the level of uncertainty union-led strike action causes. Our government will continue to focus on reaching voluntary agreements with the teachers' unions, so Ontario students stay in class where they belong.”