Public elementary teachers in Bluewater, will picket today at eight locations across the region to conduct a second one-day strike along with educators at Grand Erie, Halton, Ontario North East, Renfrew County, Superior Greenstone, and Trillium Lakelands school boards.

“It is extremely disappointing that the Ford government is refusing to listen to parents and educators and has instead decided to keep us out of schools and on strike, rather than invest in children and public education,” said Julie Stanley, Bluewater Teacher Local President. “Every day in schools, we see and feel the impact of Ford’s devastating cuts, and we cannot accept this.”

The union said it is escalating job action to protect the future of public education. The action commences Phase Five for the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO); every public elementary school board will be on strike twice during the week of February 3.

Bluewater picket lines on Monday, February 3 are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. at the following locations:

· Chesley Education Centre, 231 4th Ave. SE, Chesley, ON

· East Ridge Community School in Owen Sound, 1550 8th St. E, Owen Sound, ON

· Beaver Valley Community School, 189 Bruce St. S, Thornbury, ON

· Hepworth Centre Public School, 402 Bruce St., Hepworth, ON

· Kincardine District, 885 River Lane, Kincardine, ON

· MacPhail Community Schools, 49 Campbell St., Flesherton, ON

· Saugeen District Secondary School, 780 Gustavus St., Port Elgin, ON

· Walkerton District Secondary School, 1320 Yonge St. S, Walkerton, ON

Bluewater elementary educators in the public school system will also participate in a one-day province-wide strike on February 6 if there is no agreement reached.

Since January 20, elementary teachers and educational professionals across Ontario have held a one-day rotating strike action that consists of a full withdrawal of services. After 40 days, ETFO returned to contract talks with the mediator and government’s representative, but those negotiations broke down late in the day on Friday, January 31, and triggered Phase Five of escalated strike action for the union.

“We recognize that strikes have an impact on families throughout the region, but the stakes for the future of public education are just too high to stand by and do nothing,” added Stanley.

source: media release, ETFO