All elementary and public schools in the Greater Essex County District School Board will close Wednesday if an agreement is not reached between the high school teachers union and the province.
Members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation will be out of school and picketing at a number of locations throughout Windsor and Essex County. Pickets will take place at Belle River District High School, General Amherst High School, Kennedy Collegiate Institute, the Mason Building for continuing education, and MPP Rick Nicholl's office in Leamington.
Officials with OSSTF said they have offered to cancel/delay the strike action on Wednesday if Minister of Education Stephen Lecce agrees to staffing levels that were present in the 2018-2019 school year.
"The offer to the Minster to delay the strike should be a no-brainer. If the PC government is serious about protecting the public education system, then they should make a commitment to a delivery model that serves students best," said Erin Roy, OSSTF District 9 president. "If he does not agree, then it is another clear demonstration that this government is not serious about bargaining in good faith and our members will stand firm in protecting the students and the system as a whole. Ontario's public education system is a great equalizer and allows all students, no matter their background, to receive a world-class education system."
Staff at the local French Public Board will also be participating in strike action on Wednesday if a deal is not reached. Those schools include Ecole L’Envolee, Ecole Louise-Charron and Ecole secondaire de Lamothe-Cadillac with the Conseil Scolaire Viamonde board.
