For the second time in recent weeks, public high school teachers in the London area will be walking picket lines on Wednesday.
The Thames Valley District School Board is one of a select number of boards in the province that are being targeted with a one-day strike by members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation. The Lambton-Kent District School Board will also see picket lines outside high schools on Wednesday.
When the one-day strike was announced on Friday, the TVDSB said it would be closing all high schools for the day.
"There is insufficient supervision to ensure student safety. This includes all secondary schools and Adult and Continuing Education,” the Thames Valley board said in a statement. “All out-of-school activities [e.g. field trips, sports, etc.] are cancelled. Parents/guardians should make alternate arrangements for their children if required.”
The OSSTF previously held a one-day province-wide strike for all Ontario school boards on December 4, and a one-day walkout in select areas on December 11. Teachers and education workers at public secondary schools have also been participating in a work-to-rule limited withdrawal of services since November 26. Talks between the OSSTF and the province broke off on Monday, with a mediator saying there was no point in meeting on Tuesday since the two sides were so far apart.
The OSSTF has said class sizes, staffing, mandatory e-learning, and other issues that affect the quality of student learning have been sticking points throughout contract negotiations with the province.
