St. Anne students walk out

By Lt.-Col. David Lafreniere (ret’d)

Students at St. Anne Catholic High School walked out of their school Friday in solidarity with striking support staff.

Gathering in a park near St. Anne, students raised signs and chanted “Go back to negotiation so we can get an education.”

The strike began at midnight on Oct. 17 when no new contract seemed possible according to strike captain and secretary Mary Kay Chevalier.

“We have been working for two years without a contract and we were supposed to go on strike in June but we postponed it to accommodate the school board,” said Chevalier.

As a strike captain, Chevalier brings picket signs out to striking workers and sets the schedule to ensure there is 24-hour coverage at the school.

Striking workers are letting students and parents through their picket line without delay, but teachers are honouring the picket line by lining up their cars to enter the school in intervals set by striking workers.

“For timing the entry of teachers, we are following guidelines set by the school board and OPP,” said Chevalier.

St. Anne Principal Amy Lafaso said students are waiting in the cafeteria for their teachers and kids are coming in and being supervised.

While the time varies on how long it takes for teachers to get into the school, Lafaso said, “it can exceed three hours to get all the teachers in.”

Aaron Collins and Raj Petel were among a number of students who have been signing themselves out of school before the walkout began at 11 a.m.

“There are no teachers, and there is no point in just sitting in the cafeteria,” said Collins. “We spend about half to three-quarters of our time doing nothing. It is setting us back and we really want to get an education.”

Petel said the students walked out because they are getting tired of the strike and want negotiations. “It’s a big waste of time. They should keep them working.”