The second one day strike in Thunder Bay continues as the dispute between the teachers’ union and the government drags on.
Student support worker Jennifer Sinfield rallied at Westgate today. She explains that support staff and teachers are vital to students’ education. “Without us being in the schools’ kids can’t learn or even be at school, especially when you have students that are special needs, they need our support to get through their education.”
The student support worker says they need the provincial government to stop cutting teacher and support staff positions. Sinfield hopes they’ll be able to come to terms in the new year when talks resume in January. She adds they are hopeful they’ll be able to return to their classes to help their students.
Education Minister’s Assistant Sam Oosterhoff adds the government has reduced the number of on-line credits needed to graduate and dropped the number of students from 28 to 25 per class.
