'We’re looking for a settlement,' says OSSTF bargaining unit president (5 photos)

Elementary and secondary schools in the Sault and across the province are closed today as Ontario teachers and other education sector workers, represented by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), are staging a one-day strike after the union and the province failed to reach a new labour agreement Tuesday evening.

Approximately 100 teachers and other education sector workers with the Algoma District School Board (ADSB) walked the picket lines near White Pines Collegiate Wednesday morning.

Others will be on the picket lines today at Superior Heights, Korah, Central Algoma Secondary School (CASS), Francis H. Clergue French Immersion Public School and Prince Charles Adult Learning Centre. 

“We’re on strike for public education, full withdrawal of services from midnight to midnight today. We also have some support from the French language boards here today,” said John Wells, OSSTF District 2 teachers bargaining unit president, speaking to SooToday.

Public school teachers represented by OSSTF plan to return to work tomorrow.

“An agreement wasn’t reached. To my knowledge we have no new dates for negotiations scheduled. We’re looking for a settlement. I expect that if we’re not back at the table soon, we will have an announcement later in the week (regarding next steps in the current labour dispute),” Wells said. 

“We want status quo on class sizes (at 22 students per high school classroom as opposed to the 28 the government announced earlier this year) and proper funding to keep supports in the classroom for our education workers.”  

Michele McCleave-Kennedy, an ADSB educational assistant and current Sault Ste. Marie and District Labour Council president, on the picket lines Wednesday, said educational assistants make approximately $30,000 a year and deserve a raise.