Teachers Continue to Battle Bill 115

By: Stephen Anderson

Students in public schools throughout Windsor will not be seeing dances, chess clubs or sports in their schools as a result of teachers’ union action against Bill 115.

In December the Liberal government introduced a bill that declared teachers an essential service, imposing a contract that would make it illegal for them to strike. In response, the teachers union informed the public that they would no longer be involved with extracurricular activities.

Warren Kennedy, director of the Greater Essex County District School Board, said he understands the frustration shown by the teachers’ union and believes the consequences go beyond the bill.

“I think the consequence is that it’s a morale issue. The teachers are torn. They want to do what’s right for the children, but they also want to send a message to the government that they want to be involved in establishing their contracts or their terms and conditions in their contracts,” said Kennedy.

In an attempt to further demonstrate their message teachers threatened to walkout on Jan. 11, forcing the school board to cancel classes for students in Windsor. Once the walkout was deemed illegal the teachers appeared at schools, but the students did not.

“I think any time students aren’t in the classroom when they’re supposed to be there, that’s not what we’re about as far as we’re concerned. We think that every minute counts and when you miss time that’s a missed opportunity,” said Kennedy.

Teachers have now chosen not to participate in supervising or organizing extracurricular activities such as dances or athletics. Bill Thompson, music teacher and union representative at Honourable W.C. Kennedy Collegiate Institute, said he believes they have been stripped of their democratic rights.

“Well the major one is that we’ve had a lot of teachers working for a long period of time under specific conditions, and the collective agreement is always what defines those conditions,” said Thompson.  “All of a sudden now the government has come in and stripped that particular right. Everybody has the right to negotiate for what they think they’re worth.“

Although teachers participated in extracurriculars at the beginning of the school year, all have stopped in light of Bill 115, leaving it uncertain when sports and other activities will return.

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