Elementary teachers’ Day of Protest ruled illegal strike
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 11, 2013
GUELPH, Ontario — As a result of an Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) ruling early this morning (January 11, 2013), which determined that the province-wide one day political protest planned for today by the Elementary School Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) was an “illegal strike”, the job action was cancelled. This prompted the Upper Grand District School Board to reverse its decision to close all its elementary schools.
The Ontario Government took the issue of the one day protest to the OLRB which started hearing the application at 3:00 p.m. on January 10. The release of the decision came at just after 4:00 a.m. on January 11.
After the decision was released, ETFO directed its members to go to work. The board sent messages out saying schools would be open and busses would be running. Inclement weather in the area resulted in the cancellation of all buses which added to the confusion for parents, students and staff.
“We realize that parents were extremely inconvenienced”, said Mark Bailey, Chair of the Board. “First scrambling for child care, next the early morning OLRB ruling, and then the bus cancellations for inclement weather, added to the frustration”. Bus cancellations are not decided until 6:30 in the morning, which was after the decision to keep our schools open, was released.
Students not attending school on January 11 due to bus cancellations or the reversal of the school closings will not have their attendance records penalized. They will be recorded as general – or pardoned – absences.
The board has since learned that the Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation (OSSTF), which represents both teachers and support staff in schools and board offices (including educational assistants, early childhood educators, office clerical and technical staff, child and youth counselors) have called off their proposed one day political protest set for January 16.
For more information:
Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer
519-822-4420 ext. 725
[email protected]
Categories: Media Releases