THUNDER BAY – After mediated negotiations failed, the association representing separate school board elementary teachers began its rotating strikes Tuesday.
More than 60 elementary teachers took to the snowy picket lines outside the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board on Victoria Avenue, holding signs stating "fairness, transparency and experience matters."
Ontario Elementary Catholic Teachers Association president Aldo Grillo said fairness, transparency and experience has been our stand since day one.
“In this job action our employer, you know, continues to hold off in giving us and providing us the criteria we are looking for in terms of internal transfers,” Grillo said.
“Perhaps, this should send a message to everybody within the Board, much less the entire public, it’s the heart of winter here and these teachers are out picketing.”
Grillo added that for the board to go to the media and say they’ve provided teachers with everything they’ve asked for during bargaining…obviously, that’s not true.
The three senior elementary schools, Bishop Gallagher, Bishop E. Q. Jennings and Pope John Paul II will remain open for parents who can’t find different arrangements, while admin staff will provide supervision.
Despite provided supervision, only 20 children were dropped off Tuesday morning.
“As far as I’m concerned that’s our sign that the parent group is supporting us through our labour struggle, the fact that they aren’t sending their children to school,” Grillo said.
The OECTA took a soft approach with the rotating strike by targeting senior elementary schools, so for parents not sending their children to school at all gives the association a clear sense they are behind them 100 per cent.
OECTA officials offered to talk Monday evening, but the offer was turned down.
