Beaver Staff
Elementary teachers across Ontario are preparing to engage in work-to-rule action effective Nov. 26.
In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) said their actions ‘targets Ministry and school board administrative tasks and does not impact on students.’
Members of the EFTO are being instructed not to complete Term 1 report cards, not to participate in any professional learning that takes place outside of regular school hours and not to complete any online training through the ministry.
“We are making this known well in advance to assure parents that this strike action will not affect students, their learning or their safety,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond in a statement on the ETFO website. “ETFO members will be withdrawing from Ministry and school board administrative activities, which will give them more time to focus on working with students.”
“Our goal is to turn up the heat on Premier Ford and his education minister, Stephen Lecce,” added Hammond. “It’s critical that they finally come to contract talks prepared to address the real issues of concern: more supports for students with special needs, the protection of Ontario’s Kindergarten program and critical issues like addressing violence in schools.”
In a vote among its members conducted on Nov. 1, some 98 per cent supported a strike mandate.