Thames Valley high school teachers to hold another 1-day strike

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers'Federation (OSSTF) announced Friday it will hold another one-day strike in certain school boards on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Teachers took to the picket line for a one-day strike on Dec. 4. Pickets went up at more than a dozen secondary schools in the region, including six in London.

The recent strike action by OSSTF members is the first time they've walked off the job since 1997.

Teachers have been without a contract since it expired at the end of August. Negotiations between the union and the Province have since stalled.

The main issues for the union are the government's plans to increase class sizes and the introduction of mandatory e-learning courses. According to the government, the prime issue is compensation.

"It's about the quality of education," said John Brenans, OSSTF District 11 President. "There are cuts that will significantly impact the quality of education for years to come and we are standing up for our students. Our members know that they are there for the right reasons."

Brenans says the government can "cast shade" on their members' intent to strike, but reiterates that their main focus is on the students.

"I can tell you that my members have been very clear with me that it is the quality of education that they are standing up for," he said.

The union says these school boards will be affected next week:

• Thames Valley District School Board
• Lakehead District School Board
• Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board
• Lambton Kent District School Board
• Waterloo Region District School Board
• Waterloo Catholic District School Board
• York Region District School Board
• York Catholic District School Board
• Halton District School Board
• Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board

Several French school boards are also affected.