The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation Hit The Picket Lines
Approximately 60,000 teachers and support staff, including 90 teachers and support staff from Cobourg Collegiate Institute hit the picket lines on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 for a one-day, province-wide full withdrawal of services.
The one-day strike followed six days of information pickets and a limited withdrawal of administrative services that began November 26. The walkout comes as a result of “frustrating days at the bargaining table.”
“Through months of bargaining, the management team has avoided any meaningful discussion of class size, staffing, mandatory e-learning, or any other issue that impacts the quality of student learning,” said OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof.
“Little has changed at the (bargaining) table. We are left with no choice but to intensify our efforts to defend our education system against a government that has already begun to sabotage it.”
“We do recognize that our one-day walkout will cause short-term disruption in the lives of students and parents, and we are disappointed that we’ve been driven to take this job action. We cannot, however, stand aside and do nothing while the long-term interests of students are being compromised by the Ford government,” concluded Bischof.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love