The vast majority of high school and elementary students in Thunder Bay and across the province have the day off today due to a one day strike by teachers and education workers.
The Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers Federation has called for the action after failure between it and the Ford government to reach settlement in contract discussion. The Catholic school board is included in this action, however the two French Catholic schools are not affected.
The Student Transportation Services say all buses are cancelled, except for the two open schools.
Both the Lakehead Public School Board and the Thunder Bay Catholic School Board have told us parents are not to drop their children off at the schools, and if they do, parents will be called to ask their children be picked up. The Lakehead Board adds day care facilities remain open.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce insists this dispute is about wages, and to suggest anything else is preposterous. He adds the union has not made any move forward, but still insisting on $1.5-billion pay and benefit increases. Lecce says in his lifetime, regardless of the government or premier, unions have always escalated power.
Union President Harvey Bischof says they’ve seen nothing concrete at the table that addresses their concerns, which include class size and on-line learning. He adds the disruption caused by the strike won’t come to a close, if the government is allowed to proceed with its cuts.
