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Near North District School Board teachers to start a limited withdrawal of services tomorrow

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) high school teachers are set to begin their first provincial-level job action in over 20 years.

Starting tomorrow, District 4 teachers and occasional teachers are joining Educations workers and support staff as they engage in information pickets that will take place before and after school or during lunch periods at Near North District School Board schools and worksites. Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) claims that it won’t impact the regular school day.

“The Minister of Education seems to have time for press conferences but doesn’t seem to want to actually try and bargain a fair contract,” says District 4 Teachers President Glen Hodgson. “We have been open and transparent right from the beginning but the Doug Ford government seems intent on continuing their attack on public education.”

It has been eight months since the province and OSSTF began negotiations. Recently, NNDSB teachers voted 97 per cent in favour of backing local strike action.

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In addition, OSSTF members will begin a limited withdrawal of services that will affect government or school board initiatives only. The union claims these job actions will have no impact on student learning.

Duties that OSSTF members will no longer perform include:

  • Participation in EQAO preparation or testing
  • Completion / Submission of Ministry of Education Data Reports
  • Participation in School Board Professional Activities that are based on the Ministry of Education or School
  • Board Initiatives
  • Participation in unpaid staff meetings outside the regular school day
  • Providing comments on any secondary provincial report cards
  • Will not perform the work of another bargaining unit, even if directed by administration

OSSTF adds in a release that “throughout the central bargaining process, the Ford government has failed to address crucial issues that affect student learning and the quality of education in the province.”

It continues, “They have refused to acknowledge the negative impact of increased class sizes, mandatory e-learning, and the loss of thousands of teacher and support staff positions will have on the province’s students. Frustrated by a lack of progress at the bargaining table, OSSTF members voted overwhelmingly in favour of job action earlier this month.”

OSSTF adds they remain committed to negotiating a settlement that is good for students, good for education and good for the future of Ontario

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