Among some of the picketers at Bradford District High School (BDHS) today was York-Simcoe NDP leader Jessa McLean and her team to show their support for the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) staff.
She noted it was important to show support for not just educators and students, but for education as a whole “which is under attack from the Ford government," she said.
“Without support, without resistance, these cuts will only continue. Like the striking workers, we are determined to resist the increase in class sizes, and the mandatory e-learning being forced on school boards across the province,” she added.
Last week, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce urged the OSSTF not to strike and come back to the bargaining table.
"Union leadership has made clear they will strike again unless we accept their demand for a $1.5 billion increase in compensation applied provincially, which includes pay and benefits. We value teachers and their commitment to our students. However, OSSTF teachers on average make over $92,000 per year and are the second highest paid in the nation.
Our aim is a fiscally sustainable education system. We have consistently been fair and reasonable, focused on keeping kids in class.
However, repeated escalation at the expense of our students' education, to advance higher compensation, higher wages, and even more generous benefits, is unacceptable for parents and students in our province.
We call on OSSTF to cease from escalation, stay at the table, and focus on improving learning in the classroom, not enhancing compensation for their members."
Teachers and education workers from nine school boards across the province took job action once again, which affected both the Simcoe County District School Borad and Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.
“We’d rather be in the classroom,” said one Early Childhood Education (ECE) worker who stood outside BDHS this morning, along with other fellow ECEs, Designated Early Chilhood Educators workers and teachers.
The group told BradfordToday that Lecce was only speaking about the teachers in his statement and didn't acknowledge ECEs and DECEs. They want more for their students, especially those with special needs who they say are not getting enough attention in the classroom.
They continue to fight for smaller class sizes, less online learning and a one percent wage increase.
Together the picketers huddled close in the blistering cold, while waving signs and flags at the cars driving by, as part of the OSSTF's second one day strike, affecting nine school boards across the province.
“We will continue to stand alongside our educators until Minister Lecce listens to teachers, students and parents, and reverses the cuts to education,” said McLean.
