WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) has called off planned rotating strikes between Feb. 24 and 28.
“The mediator has called the parties back to the table on [Feb. 24], and we have been assured that the discussions will continue to be meaningful,” OECTA president Liz Stuart stated in a press release on Feb. 21.
“As a result, OECTA will be suspending the rotating strikes planned for next week.”
The announcement was made on Feb. 21 after OECTA teachers participated in the province-wide, four-union strike that day.
“Today’s historic strike was an incredible display of the passion and dedication of teachers and education workers across Ontario,” Stuart said.
“At the same time, we have always said that our goal is to negotiate a deal at the bargaining table, and it is clear that our efforts are being effective in forcing the government to work with our association toward a fair agreement.”
OECTA teachers were scheduled to strike on Feb. 28 in Wellington County and while teachers will now report to work that day, the schools will still be closed due to an Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (OSSTF) rotating strike.
Education minister Stephen Lecce once again said the government is looking for a deal that will keep students in class and is ready to negotiate.
“While OSSTF demands a $1.5 billion increase in wages and benefits, we will advance the case for investment in our kids,” he said in a Feb. 21 press release.
“I’d rather see us reduce classroom sizes or invest further in improving math performance, as opposed to spending over $600 million (sector-wide) on a hike to an already generous benefits plan.
“With over 80 cents to the dollar spent on compensation and over 60% increase in spending since 2003, taxpayers and parents rightfully expect more and better for our students.”
In the Wellington Catholic District School Board, OSSTF represents educational assistants, early childhood educators, office/clerical staff, library technicians, information technology staff, youth workers, social workers, speech and language pathologists, psychological associates and behaviour analysts.
“School safety in an inclusive environment remains of paramount importance to us,” director of education Tamara Nugent wrote in an online letter to parents/guardians.
“OSSTF represents 267 of our 870 school-based staff. As such, we would not be able to safely operate our schools.”
The board said all schools will be closed unless the strike is averted.
“As before, it remains our hope and prayer that the parties are able to achieve freely negotiated collective agreements at the provincial level that serve the needs of our students and are fair to teachers/education workers and Catholic ratepayers,” Nugent wrote.
All publicly funded schools in Wellington County will be closed on Feb. 28 due to the OSSTF strike.
