Waterloo region teachers to strike again Wednesday

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) announced Friday that it will hold another one-day strike in Waterloo Region and other provincial school boards on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

The strikewould affect both elementary and secondary schools in theWaterloo Region District School Board,said Lynsey Slupeiks, WRDSBcommunications officer.The OSSTF represents secondary school teachers and education workers in public elementary and secondary schools.

In addition to elementary and secondary schools closing, the WRDSB said the one-day strike action will affect the following programs:

• Before and after school childcare programs, extended day childcare programs, Early ON Centres and third-party operated childcare centres will close.
• Extracurricular activities will be cancelled.
• All evening rental permits will be cancelled.

In addition to secondary school teachers, the WRDSB said a number of its education workersare also represented by the OSSTF, such as school secretaries, custodial staff, educational support staff and supervision monitors and cafeteria assistants.

Although the WCDSBhas also been named as part of the job action, the board said in a tweet Saturday that its schools will remain open.

Several French schools will be affectedas well including:

• cole lmentaire catholique Cardinal-Lgerin Kitchener.
• cole lmentaire catholique Mre-lisabeth-Bruyrein Waterloo.
• cole secondaire catholique Pre-Ren-de-Galineand cole lmentaire catholique Saint-Nol-Chabanel in Cambridge.
• cole lmentaire catholique Saint-Ren-Goupilin Guelph.

The union saysOSSTF members will return to work on Thursday, December 19.

Chera Longston, communications manager for theAvon Maitland District School Board, said Friday that schools in the AMDSB would notbe affected by the scheduled strike.

Schools in the Upper Grand District School Board will not be affected by the strike.

Second 1-day strike in December

Teachers also took to the picket line for a one-day strike on Dec. 4.

The recent strike action by OSSTF members is the first time they've walked off the job since 1997.

Teachers have been without a contract since it expired at the end of August. Negotiations between the union and the Province have since stalled.

The main issues for the union are the government's plans to increase class sizes and the introduction of mandatory e-learning courses. According to the government, the prime issue is compensation.

The union says these school boards will be affected next week:

• Thames Valley District School Board.
• Lakehead District School Board.
• Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board.
• Lambton Kent District School Board.
• Waterloo Region District School Board.
• Waterloo Catholic District School Board.
• York Region District School Board.
• York Catholic District School Board.
• Halton District School Board.
• Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board.

Several French school boards around the province are also affected.