While ETFO continues its work-to-rule strike action, it will escalate its political action starting this Monday, March 9 given that the Ford government has initiated no dates for central talks.
“Despite Minister Lecce’s pronouncements to the media this week, the government has not initiated any contract talks with ETFO,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond. “We will do what it takes to stop the Minister’s rhetoric and get his negotiating team to come to the table with proposals that will result in a fair deal for students, student learning and educators.”
ETFO has advised its members to continue pickets outside of their schools and invite parents to join them, make personal phone calls to Conservative MPPs to discuss the impact of the Ford cuts and send letters to the Executive Council of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) to highlight key bargaining issues. They are also being asked to take to social media to correct some of the misinformation that Minister Lecce is communicating to the public.
ETFO will be taking other actions as well to communicate directly with the public.
“It’s key that the public understand what is really at stake for public education in these contract talks. We’re asking our members to arrange meetings with school trustees, address school councils and leaflet homes in their communities after hours to inform people of the issues,” added Hammond.
An additional component of ETFO’s Phase 7 strike action beginning March 23 will be announced this Monday.
