Students miss out on GNE education day due to job action
Students at Nottawasaga and Creemore Public School will not be attending education day at the Great Northern Exhibition due to ongoing province-wide strike action.
On education day, the first day of the annual fair, Grade 3 and 7 students from elementary schools that feed into Stayner Collegiate Institute, Collingwood Collegiate Institute and Jean Vanier Catholic High School, in addition to area private schools, are invited to the fairgrounds for free, where they learn about agriculture as it ties into the curriculum.
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), which includes elementary school teachers in the Simcoe County District School Board, are in the third phase of work-to-rule job action, meaning there will be no field trips until a labour agreement with the province is reached.
Teachers won’t be participating in fundraising activities outside the instructional day or taking part in professional development activities, according to a labour update from the school board. They will not communicate electronically with school administration, collect or distribute to students any paperwork required by the school or school board, or update classroom communications tools including class websites and blogs. In addition, teachers will not participate in parent-teacher interviews unless they have a concern about a child’s progress.
They will continue to provide extracurricular activities, except on Wednesdays, and provide extra help to students and provide scheduled supervisory duties.
ETFO said Monday that bargaining came to a halt on Sept. 7 after the Liberal government and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association tabled contract terms designed for secondary teachers.
“The government is trying to cut corners by offering elementary teachers a deal designed for secondary teachers. Elementary teachers and students have different needs than secondary teachers and students,” said ETFO president Sam Hammond.
“Despite what the government is implying, it has not offered our members the same conditions as secondary teachers. There is a significant disparity in how elementary and secondary schools are funded. That funding gap results in larger class sizes, fewer student supports and poorer working conditions in our elementary schools. The deal the government insists ETFO accept does absolutely nothing to close that gap.”
The union has also indicated it will begin rotating one-day strikes in October if sufficient progress has not occurred at the central bargaining table. Parents and the public will be provided adequate notice should these one-day rotating strikes proceed, said ETFO.
