THUNDER BAY – Negotiations have failed after two more days of talks and the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board’s elementary teachers say they will begin rotating strikes.
The board has countered, saying they will lockout teacher should they choose a strike option.
No date was given for when teachers will walk off the job or what schools will be hit first in the labour stoppage.
Aldo Grillo, the president of the Thunder Bay Elementary Unit of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, said he and his members are extremely frustrated.
“We have been bargaining this contract since the fall of 2015 and to have it break down at this stage shows a total lack of respect for the teachers,” he said in a release issued on Thursday morning.
Solely at issue is the criteria used for the internal movement of teachers, Grillo went on to say, adding there are no monetary terms left to negotiate.
“It is shame that something like this is going to disrupt the education of the students,” Grillo said.
Later on Thursday the board released statement and said they won't be left at the mercy of the union.
"The safety of students is our top priority, one which cannot be ensured under rotating OECTA strikes. After careful and difficult consideration, the board has determined that in order ensure the safety of our students, the board will have no choice but lockout the teachers following a rotating strike," the release states.
There are no bargaining dates scheduled, though the board remains hopeful a deal can still be reached.
About 380 teachers are affected by a strike or lockout. They've been in a legal strike position since last June.
