Public elementary, high school classes may be cancelled Wednesday if deal isn’t reached

Teachers at the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) await news of a potential walk-out if a tentative agreement is not reached after negotiations.

If the walk-out occurs, the GECDSB will close all secondary and elementary schools for the day. The absence of faculty would create a safety concern for students.

The Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation (OSSTF) has been in negotiations with the provincial government all weekend pushing to reduce class sizes and eliminate mandatory online credits imposed by the Ford government.

The OSSTF first began legal job action across Ontario Nov. 26. As part of their work-to-rule campaign, teachers withdrew some administrative services, including putting comments on report cards, attending extra meetings and participating in standardized testing.

The OSSTF represents:

• Secondary school teachers (contract & occasional)
• Educational Assistants (E.A.s) (elementary & secondary)
• Early Childhood Educators (E.C.E.s) (elementary)
• Professional student services personnel (P.S.S.P.)
• Child and Youth Workers (C.Y.W.s) (elementary and secondary)
• Developmental Service Workers (D.S.W.s)
• Continuing Education Instructors
• Language and Employment Services Employees (L.E.S.E.)​

Parents and students can keep themselves updated on negotiations by visiting the board’s website.