It’s still not clear what form of job action public elementary teachers will take next week – but whatever happens, the Waterloo Region District School Board says, schools will likely remain open.
In a letter sent home with parents Wednesday and posted on the board’s website, school board officials said they expect strike action to begin Monday.
“All reports indicate that this will consist of a partial withdrawal of services,” the letter reads.
“Based on the information received, parents can expect elementary schools to be open on Monday … with all classes running as usual. All extended day child care programs will operate as regularly scheduled.”
Parents who spoke with CTV News outside an elementary school in Waterloo said they were hoping for some clarity on exactly what the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario has planned.
“I feel like I don’t really know for sure what’s happening,” said Wendy Janzen.
“If there is action, I hope it’s less than a strike,” said Isaac Morland.
For the first time, teachers’ contract talks are being handled on a two-track system, with local issues bargained with individual school boards and other issues handled provincially.
It is expected that next week’s job action from ETFO-represented teachers will occur at schools across Ontario.
That’s different than the tack employed by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, which has filed for strike-allowing ‘no board’ reports at the local level.
Public high school teachers in several boards have already taken strike action. Waterloo Region’s OSSTF chapter is in a position to do the same, but has not done so.
The union representing Catholic teachers has said it won’t take any strike action until June at the earliest.
At Queen’s Park on Thursday, Education Minister Liz Sandals said she too was waiting for details of what ETFO’s strike action would entail – and what prompted it.
“There has not been one single issue which prompted a strike at the table – that’s all I can say,” the Guelph MPP told reporters.
Sandals was also questioned in the legislature as to whether she would resign her cabinet post. She responded that she would not.
