All four teacher unions were on strike today forcing the closure of every English, French, public and Catholic elementary and secondary school in Ontario. Local union representatives say it’s a historic day as they stand against reckless and irresponsible cuts to education by the provincial government. President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) in Renfrew County, Christian Sell, called on MPP John Yakabuski to stand up for local students and their future.
Sell says cuts to education will result in more kids falling through the cracks and not obtaining a diploma. He adds this will result in an increase in health care, social services and justice system costs. Occasional teacher and President of the local Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (EFTO), Jamieson Dyer, says they would rather be in class with students and taking part in extracurricular sporting activities. Dyer says they are giving up so much to take a stand for our future generations.
Dyer says the province has cut $4-billion in corporate taxes and adds that money needs to be made up somewhere. He says it’s smart to invest in health care, education and transportation, not to cut corporate taxes. Dyer says teachers are being forced to purchase classroom supplies because of the lack of funding. Education Minister Stephen Lecce says kids belong in the classroom and shouldn’t be a casualty of union led escalation. The OSSTF and ETFO were joined by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) and the French teachers union (AEFO) for the massive strike that saw 200,000 education workers off the job and 2-million students out of class on Friday.
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Strike action today by education workers with the OSSTF, ETFO, OECTA and AEFO
COMMENTS FROM EDUCATION MINISTER:
We want a good deal for students that keeps them in class.
It’s what we strive for. It’s what students deserve.#onpoli pic.twitter.com/sSNNlbCVGB
— Stephen Lecce (@Sflecce) February 19, 2020
LIVE VIDEO OF TEACHERS AND EDUCATION WORKERS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE OFFICE OF MPP JOHN YAKABUSKI:
Hundreds of teachers are rallying in Pembroke today as a part of a strike that has closed all English, French and Catholic schools in Ontario.
Posted by 104.9 myFM on Friday, February 21, 2020