THUNDER BAY – Strike action by elementary and secondary school teachers and education workers hasn’t had a major impact on the day-to-day operations at Lakehead Public Schools.
However, if the unions and provinces don’t come to an agreement soon, the board’s director of education worries that could change.
Lakehead Public Schools is bracing for three days of strikes this week, which will close its elementary schools on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation’s rotating strikes will close local public high schools on Tuesday, with a trickle-down effect on the board’s elementary schools. The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario’s rotating strikes arrive in Thunder Bay on Wednesday, with a province-wide walk-out scheduled for Thursday.
Ian MacRae said it’s unfortunate and frustrating for administrators at the regularity of the strike action, which is ramping up with the two sides at an impasse. ETFO leadership met with the province for three days last week before talks broke off on Friday.
“I think it’s becoming frustrating for both parents and students and certainly at our end, at the management level, it’s become a bit challenging, given that the different unions represent employee groups that belong to and work with the different elementary and secondary schools, so it results in closures when I think a lot of parents would think there wouldn’t be closures,” MacRae said on Monday.
A typical school year, according to Ontario legislation, is 194 days of classes.
A year ago, students at Hammarskjold High School were out 12 days because of a series of ongoing threats and board officials were working on contingency plans, including extending the school year into July.
MacRae said they’re not at that point, yet.
“That’s not a real concern at this stage. It’s just the day-to-day frustration. And we believe that every day a student is out of class is significant and there is no replacing that. So we’re anxious that this comes to an end and we’re hopeful that end comes sooner, rather than later,” MacRae said.
He’s also crossing his fingers that the job action doesn’t escalate to include extra-curricular activities. At the moment, the unions have said they are trying to have as little an impact on the student experience as possible, but that could change at a moment’s notice.
“We’re always in the back of our minds thinking worst-case scenario and for us, any impact on co-curricular activities is extremely significant to all of the partners in the system and we’ll be watching it very closely,” MacRae said.
“I hope we don’t get to that point because in the past when that has been the case it’s been very uncomfortable for everyone.”
