The Windsor-Essex representative for The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario says a lack of dialog is the motivation behind work to rule action.
Area schools are preparing for a work-to-rule campaign that will be rolling out across the province on Nov. 26 — one day after the teachers would be in a legal strike position. Federation members across Ontario voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action to back contract demands on Nov. 1.
Adelina Cecchin tells AM800 News talks with the Ministry of Education have stalled.
"Part of the reason we've initiated this action is because we're finding that there isn't the response or progress that we need at the central table in our discussions around bargaining with the government," she says. "Adequate support for students with special needs, violence that's happening in our classrooms, and we also need to have some answers about kindergarten in terms of protecting the model the way it's delivered."
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce issued a statement Thursday afternoon expressing disappointment to a move he says, "hurts our kids."
Cecchin wants to make sure parents know the action will not be directed at students.
"Teachers will continue to be focused on student learning, student safety; our work to rule that's going to be beginning on Nov. 26 is administrative in nature. It will be primarily targeting the government and school boards," she says.
The union represents 83,000 elementary public school teachers, occasional teachers and education professionals across the province. There are 1,500 elementary and occasional teachers in Windsor-Essex working at the Greater Essex County District School Board.
According to the ETFO website, teachers will continue focus on and support the learning needs of students, maintain contact with parents regarding students, and provide scheduled supervisory duties.
A complete list of work-to-rule actions can be found on the ETFO website.
— with files from AM800's Teresinha Medeiros.