Teachers, support staff and education assistants across the Kenora district are back on the job today (Thursday) following a one day strike by members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation.
Local representative Cindy Hayward says the job action is a matter of protecting the province’s education system from government cuts.
Hayward says teachers are concerned with increased class sizes and the government removing programs from students.
She notes “we have a world class education system and our educators want to keep it that way.”
Another local OSSTF official claims the Ford government is lying about the dispute.
Rich Seeley points out claims by the education minister that the government has made moves during negotiations are not true.
Seeley notes “We are trying to defend the system. What we’re looking for is a status quo contract with a cost of living increase. That is not unreasonable and I think most Ontarians are on our side.”
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the union is asking for $1.5 billion in pay and benefit increases.
