Students will be back in class today after a one day strike by teachers and support staff at Near North District schools.
The strike was meant to put pressure on the provincial government as contract talks drag on.
See: Teachers and support staff standing together at one-day picket
But today the union says Wednesday’s walkout could be the first of many if the government doesn’t change course in contract talks.
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, which represents about 40,000 high school teachers and 15,000 support staff, is against government plans to increase class sizes and introduce mandatory e-learning courses.
A strike locally affects 454 workers.
In the Near North District School Board, OSSTF represents secondary Teachers, Early Childhood Educators, Educational Assistants and PSSP staff (Psychologists, Psychometrists, Speech Language Pathologists, Communicative Disorder Assistants, Behaviour Counsellors, Behaviour Analyst, Child Development Counsellors, Attendance Counsellors and Mental Health Workers).
The teachers are already conducting a work-to-rule campaign and say they would give five days’ notice before any further labour action.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce called the one-day strike unacceptable and urged the union to take part in private mediation.
See related: Clock ticking. Elementary teachers get ‘no board’ report
