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Local MPP Addresses Teachers Strikes

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The MPP for Kenora-Rainy River says their government is focused on reaching a voluntary agreement with teacher unions.

Greg Rickford is pushing for a negotiated settlement so Ontario students can stay in class where they belong.

Rickford issued the following statement on Wednesday:

“While parents in Kenora-Rainy River are frustrated by teacher union escalation every few years, it is unacceptable that union leaders would ramp up strike action and make families across the province scramble for childcare.

We recognize the impact of union escalation on families is real, and unions expect hard-working families to bear the costs of their cyclical labour action. That’s why our government launched its Support for Parents initiative that puts money directly into the pockets of parents.

The immense uptake of our Support for Parents initiative speaks volumes to the level of uncertainty union-led strike action causes.”

The program helps off-set the costs of childcare for parents.

As of January 21st, 178,427 applications have been submitted.

To take advantage of the program, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/education-contract-talks-stay-updated

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Teachers Hold One Day Strike In Local Communities

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Teachers and anyone represented by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation hit the picket lines Wednesday in the Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake, Ignace and Kenora areas.

Marvin Osmond of Sioux Lookout is the local union president and he says the one day job action was for the students.

“This is not about money. It’s about publicly funded education and the opportunities for kids in schools. Right now, with the government cuts, we are seeing large classes, we are seeing the number of classes available in high schools reduced.”

Osmond says “They need help from the public. We need parents to contact their MPP’s. Instruct them to instruct Ford to sit down and come to the table with a reasonable offer and not one where were slashing and cutting services to kids in Ontrario.”

Local union spokesperson Joel McGrath says if the government has it’s way, classrooms will feel the impacts.

“It is all about students. If the Ford government proceeds with their plan to cut high school teaching positions, the classrooms will not look like they look like now. They will look pretty terrible for young people in our communities with huge classroom sizes.”

The OSSTF has been doing weekly rotating walk-outs across the province hoping the government comes back to the bargaining table.