THUNDER BAY – The public elementary school labour dispute with the province escaladed on Monday as teachers announced their intention to end all extra-curricular activities on Wednesdays.
Beyond what the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario is calling 'Wynne Wednesdays,' it has instructed its 76,000 members not to attend parent-teacher interviews, comment on report cards, participate in professional development or present long-term education plans.
"All student activities have, at this point, been rescheduled and we are certainly hopeful we don't have to escalate this work-to-rule any further," said Lakehead Elementary Teachers of Ontario president, Mike Judge.
Judge pointed out Ontario struck a deal with secondary teachers after 29 days of negotiations where the province walked away from ETFO contract negotiations after only 11 days earlier this month. Judge said if the province doesn't return to the table, the next phase will include day-long walkouts in October.
"I think it's important to highlight we've been without a contract for more than a year and we've simply been asking the government to get back to the table and get this done," he said.
"We want to return to business as soon as possible. Let the teachers do what they do best."
Lakehead Public School Board administrators will be taking on some of the responsibilities teachers are withholding during work-to-rule action. Board business superintendent David Wright said doesn't think Wynne Wednesdays will have a direct impact on students in the classroom.
"Parents obviously have concerns about regular communication with teachers but that can continue to happen within the school day, within work hours for teachers," Wright said.
"We do have concerns and want things to return to normal and for teachers to do everything they normally do in classrooms and for their benefit and ours and for the benefit of students but ETFO's in a legal strike position and we hope it wraps up fairly quickly so we can get back to normal."
Wright remains optimistic local negotiations will be settled soon.
