Job action details expected from teachers

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario is expected to announce details this afternoon about what their next steps will be.

ETFO announced this week that its teacher and occasional teacher members will be taking province-wide strike action as of Monday, May 11.

ETFO represents 76,000 elementary public school teachers, occasional teachers and education professionals across the province.

“What’s important to realize is that the government and (Ontario Public School Boards’ Association) want to layer on more bureaucracy into the education system, and compromise the ability of teachers to do what’s best for our students,” stated ETFO President Sam Hammond earlier this week.

Reports say it is expected teachers will take the “work to rule” route rather than hitting the picket lines.

Jim Costello, director of education for the Lambton-Kent District School Board told the Sydenham Current earlier in the week that the action ETFO could take ranges from full strike to rotating strike, to work to rule.

Costello said LKDSB officials were set to meet with he Lambton-Kent ETFO executive on Thursday afternoon.

“We will be communicating with our parents shortly after probably in the form of a letter going home Friday as well as updates provided on our website.”

“Work to rule” is an action in which employees do no more than the minimum required by the rules of their contract, and precisely follow safety or other regulations in order to cause a slowdown.

When this happens in schools, extra curricular activities don’t usually take place and report card comments are not completed.

A formal announcement is expected by 2 p.m. on Friday.