Province wide job action has forced the closure of public secondary schools and kindergarten classes across Renfrew County today.
Members with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) are withdrawing services today because an agreement with the province has not been reached. Locally the OSSTF includes all public high school teachers, office managers and early childhood educators.
The Renfrew County Catholic District School Board does not have employees in the OSSTF meaning catholic schools will remain open. Negotiations with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association are still ongoing and those members are not in a legal strike position at this time.
Director of Education with the public board Pino Buffone says they’re trying to reduce the impact to local students today.
Buffone adds elementary students from Grades 1-8 will not be impacted by the strike today and secondary school and kindergarten classes will resume tomorrow. Buffone says they’re hoping for a resolution to the job action as soon as possible.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the main issue is compensation with unions seeking a two percent increase while the government recently passed legislation to cap wage increases for public sector workers at one percent. The OSSTF says increased class sizes from 22 to 25 students and the mandatory e-learning courses needed to graduate remain concerns.
It’s possible there may be a delay in bus service so riders are encouraged to pay attention to communication from the Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium this morning.
