The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) has announced job action that will start on Monday (January 13th, 2020). As part of the new directive from its union, OECTA members will not prepare report cards, participate in EQAO related activities or attend and participate in Ministry of Education initiatives. Director of Education for the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board, Jamie Perry, says they are still evaluating how the job action will impact Grade 9 students who are scheduled to write EQAO tests between January 13th and the 24th. However, Perry says this job action will not have any direct impact on classroom activities. The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, which had members out of the class and on the picket lines earlier this week, also says they don’t plan to participate in EQAO testing. Education Minister Stephan Lecce says union actions are undermining student success. He says due to the escalation by union leaders, secondary students will not be prepared for the assessment on Monday. The Education Minister says high schools that aren’t taking part in the January EQAO testing will need to make up the work in the June 2020 administration period. Meanwhile, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario says that starting Monday, its members will no longer supervise extra-curricular activities or participate in field trips. A full strike on a rotating basis will begin January 20 unless there is movement on talks, according to the union.
