Members of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario in the Rainy River district took their turn Wednesday in the union’s rotating one-day strikes against the provincial government.
Picketing in Fort Frances was held mainly in the town’s west end.
Like other teacher and educator worker unions, public elementary teachers have been working without a new contract since the beginning of this school year.
Local union president Monica Armour says they have some specific issues that need to be addressed.
“We’re walking so that we can keep our full-day kindergarten model. We’re walking because we need special education supports. We’re walking to do something about the violence in the classrooms,” says Armour.
Armour says, so far, the government has been unwilling to discuss them at the bargaining table.
She is hoping their job action gets some action.
“We’re hoping that it will be effective. We’re hoping that people will put some pressure on our local MPP Greg Rickford so that he will put pressure on Mr. Ford to get back to the table.”
Currently, there are no signs of talks resuming anytime soon.
Public elementary teachers returned to the classrooms today.
