THUNDER BAY – Registered Early Childhood Educators and Student Support Workers could walk off the job for one day next Wednesday.
Harvey Bischof on Thursday said the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation has given the province the necessary notice to walk off the job.
The union leader told reporters the union will be left with no choice but to stage the one-day strike, if significant progress in negotiations isn’t made between now and Wednesday.
"We came to the table this week with some hope. After two days, regrettably, the parties remain far apart," Bischof is quoted is saying by CBC at a news conference held Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel.
"This week we began a job action carefully devised to have no impact on students. It's clear from these past two days of bargaining, however, that our action is having no impact on the tone or substance of negotiations."
Educators and support workers are fighting mandatory e-learning credits instituted by the province as well as classroom sizes, which the province initially wanted to boost from 22 to 28, but has since dropped back to 25.
In Thunder Bay, teachers and education workers at public high schools have instituted work-to-rule action, but have promised up to this time not to impact students.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce expressed disappointment over the plan to escalate to a strike after just two days of work-to-rule.
“Strikes hurt kids. Our government has been clear, we want deals that keep students in class. For teacher unions to leave the table, to turn their back on our children, and to escalate to the point of compromising their education, is deeply troubling for parents and our government,” Lecce said in a statement.
"Our government has demonstrated consistently it is reasonable and student-centric by making major moves that have not been matched or reciprocated by the teachers' unions.”
Lecce said the province is available 24/7 to negotiate.
The union says teachers will return to the classroom on Thursday if they do walk out. They voted overwhelmingly for a strike mandate.
