Catholic Teachers Walking the Picket Lines in Woodstock

Tuesday, 21 January 2020 13:20

"Unlike what most people think, it's not about the compensation for us, for us as teachers here on the front line, it's about the number of students in the classroom."

WOODSTOCK - Catholic Teachers are walking the picket lines across the Province today.

In Woodstock you can see them picketing at St. Marys and in front of local MPP Ernie Hardemans office. All Catholic schools are closed to students during the one day strike.

Picket Captain and Kindergarten Teacher in the LDCSB Debra Kindrey says talks with the Province are at a standstill.

"They have completely broken down, I know as far as OECTA is concerned, we have met over 40 times with both the trustees and the Government and both the trustees and the teachers have come ready to bargain and it seems the Government has not been there in good faith, as far as we are concerned."

She adds the biggest issues they are fighting for are things like class sizes and protecting Full Day Kindergarten.

"Unlike what most people think, it's not about the compensation for us, for us as teachers here on the front line, it's about the number of students in the classroom. The children who are struggling or need more assistance are the ones who will be hurt the most. So for us it's about the size of classrooms, E-learning, because not every child is good at E-learning and we also want full day kindergarten to be protected."

Local MPP Ernie Hardeman released a statement regarding the labour disruption. Hardeman says that while parents in Oxford are frustrated by teacher union escalation every few years, it is unacceptable that union leaders would ramp up strike action and make families across the province scramble for childcare.

“We recognize the impact of union escalation on families is real, and unions expect hard-working families to bear the costs of their cyclical labour action. That’s why our government launched its Support for Parents initiative that puts money directly into the pockets of parents. The immense uptake of our Support for Parents initiative speaks volumes to the level of uncertainty union-led strike action causes. Our government will continue to focus on reaching voluntary agreements with the teachers' unions, so Ontario students stay in class where they belong.”

Public School Elementary teachers meanwhile are striking today in the Grand Erie District School Board. Tomorrow they will be striking in Thames Valley, meaning the schools will be closed to students.

Parents will be left to find alternate care arrangements. The City of Woodstock is offering day camps at the Museum.