THUNDER BAY – Public board high school teachers and education workers in Thunder Bay have begun a limited work-to-rule campaign.
Staff at Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute marched before class on Thursday morning in an information picket, outlining to parents their opposition to class-size increases proposed by the Ontario government and mandatory online course credits.
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation members are also seeking fair compensation tied to inflation, specialize professional supports for students with special needs and a safe, equitable learning space for all students.
Rich Seeley, president of OSSTF District 6A, said for now their efforts will attempt to have little to no impact on students and their learning experience.
“It’s an information blitz. Members have pamphlets and signs and they’re trying to get that out to the public to explain what our side is in our current battle with the government over our collective agreement,” Seeley said.
“We are trying to bargain a fair deal with the government. They haven’t come to the table with any kind of movement yet and we believe the things they’re trying to do through the contract and legislation are undermining the public education system in Ontario and we are here to defend that system.”
Not backing down on class-size increases is the biggest sticking point.
“They went to 28 to 1 last spring. They’ve offered to come back to 25 to 1, but we were at 22 to 1. So we see that there’s no reason for this at all. They’ve not provided any justification for such cuts. So we want to get back to the table at 22 to 1 and start talking about where we can go,” Seeley said.
Seeley said they’ve provided the province several money-saving ideas, all of which have been rejected.
He added making four e-learning credits mandatory for all students to graduate high school is not the right way to go.
“They’ve since said publicly that’s down to two. We have offered to go and bargain and discuss that, strike a committee to look at e-learning, because we know as teachers and educators that most students do not do well in e-learning,” Seeley said.
“So we simply want to study it and see what would be a good approach.”
Support workers also want manageable class sizes, along with full access to programming and courses that give students opportunities for their future, specialized professional supports for special needs children, sufficient numbers of adults working in classroom, offices and buildings and reasonable compensation.
Seeley also accused Education Minister Stephen Lecce of saying one thing in public and the complete opposite when the province lands at the bargaining table.
For now the information pickets will remain in off-hours. Teachers and Education workers, who voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate, will also withhold certain government=mandated activities, including EQAO testing and test preparation. Seeley pointed out extra-curricular activities will continue, for now.
Lecce on Tuesday issued a statement saying he wants to get a deal done to keep students in class and said it’s regrettable OSSTF membership, along with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario have chosen the work-to-rule route.
“The government has remained a consistent and reasonable force at the negotiating table, trying to reach a deal that provides certainty and predictability to parents, students, and educators. As evidenced by the voluntarily negotiated agreement with CUPE, I know we can get there through working together in good faith, so that students remain in class,” Lecce said.
The two sides are expected to continue negotiations on Thursday in Toronto.
