Fedeli blasts teachers' unions

Vic Fedeli did not hold back his frustration with teachers unions, calling the union leaders "bullies" and their fearful messaging that 50 per cent of public high school teachers will be laid off as “preposterous.”

Fedeli spoke at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the Grande Event Centre in downtown North Bay this morning.  

“They are spreading false information. They have scared the people of North Bay by saying it is confirmed 50 per cent of all teachers at the school board will be fired. I mean, that is preposterous so the teachers unions need to apologize to the students that they have scared, their parents, and quite frankly their grandparents,” Fedeli said after his speech in front of more than 55 people at the breakfast event.  

The news of the layoffs was announced on Tuesday in front of Fedeli’s office as union officials and impacted teachers gathered to react to a redundancy letter they received from the Near North School Board.

See related: Teacher react to sudden layoff news 

Fedeli insists that letter cannot be connected to the new Ontario budget.

“That letter was strictly a school board decision and has nothing to do with the provincial government or the changes in class sizes or the e-learning, absolutely nothing to do with that. That would be an individual board decision likely based on enrolment,” said Fedeli.

Fedeli also stated the layoff messaging has been causing a lot of fear and confusion for students and their parents in his riding.  

He believes the union is putting itself ahead of the students.  

“It may have something to do with the bargaining that is underway. I can’t comment on that but I can tell you it is not about helping the students. Nothing they are doing is for the benefit of the students,” said Fedeli bluntly.  

“The phone calls I am getting from parents is, students are being told one thing and they literally coming home crying and I ask them why don’t they call the principal. And they tell me they do not want their child to get all D’s.  

“So it is bullying on behalf of the teachers unions.”

Fedeli believes the public should be cautious believing teachers' unions messaging moving forward.  

“It did not line up with their thoughts. They are still protesting but now they have taken it to a whole new level by exaggerating by saying we are cutting 50 per cent of the teachers,” said Fedeli about unions’ reaction to the budget.  

“Nobody should believe a word teachers' unions ever tell them again.”