Here's what you need to know about teacher strikes this week
Waterloo region's public elementary schools to be closed 3 days for strikes
Parents and caregivers are preparing for another round of strikes by education workers this week that will hit Waterloo region's schools hard.
The Waterloo Region District School Board will see schools close for three days if deals between teacher unions and the province aren't reached.
The province met with the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) last week but were unable to reach a deal, which the union says would have prevented this week's strikes.
Here's what to expect based on your school board.
Waterloo Region District School Board
The Waterloo Region District School Board will see three days of strikes:
- Tuesday: Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) workers go on strike. Elementary and secondary schools will be closed.
- Thursday: Province-wide ETFO strike. Elementary schools will be closed.
- Friday will see a rotating ETFO strike that also includes this area. Elementary schools will be closed.
On Tuesday, when OSSTF is striking, that means all before and after school programs, extended day childcare programs, Early ON Centres and childcare centres located in schools are closed. As well, all extracurricular activities are cancelled.
On Thursday and Friday, when ETFO strikes, all secondary schools are open. As well, EarlyON and licensed child care centres located in schools will also be open. Before and after school programs (extended day and youth development programs) operated by licensed child care providers will operate in designated locations only. Before and after care operated by the school board will be closed.
All rental permits for community groups that use school facilities such as gyms and classrooms are cancelled as of Feb. 1 until further notice.
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Waterloo Catholic District School Board schools will be closed on Tuesday. That is part of a province-wide one-day strike by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association.
All WCDSB extended day programs will be open for the day as usual for students currently registered. Community use of the schools will also carry on.
All of WCDSB's St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres campuses will also be closed Tuesday as the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation has announced a strike.
The only exception to that is the personal support worker programs – they will run as normal.
"We remain hopeful the government, OECTA and OSSTF will return to the bargaining table quickly and will come to a fair and respectful agreement that serves the best interests of our students," the school board said in a statement.
Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir
Eighteen schools within the board will close Tuesday as the OSSTF workers go on strike.
A number of local schools and programs are affected:
- École élémentaire catholique Cardinal-Léger.
- École élémentaire catholique Mère-Élisabeth-Bruyère.
- École élémentaire catholique Saint-René-Goupil.
- École élémentaire catholique Saint-Noël-Chabanel (Cambridge).
- École secondaire catholique Père-René-de-Galinée.
- Programme de jour prolongé (PJP SRG) – Service avant-après l'école du Csc MonAvenir offert aux maternelle-jardin.
Conseil scolaire Viamond
École élémentaire L'Harmonie in Waterloo and École élémentaire L'Odyssée in Guelph will be closed Tuesday as Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation workers go on strike.
Upper Grand District School Board
The Upper Grand District School Board will see two days of strikes that will impact elementary schools.
Tuesday will see a rotating ETFO strike. Elementary schools will be closed.
Thursday will see a province-wide ETFO strike. Elementary schools will be closed.
Secondary schools are not affected by the OSSTF strike action.
Wellington Catholic District School Board
Wellington Catholic District School Board schools will be closed on Tuesday. That is part of a province-wide one-day strike by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association.
"It remains our hope and prayer that the parties are able to achieve freely negotiated collective agreements that serve the needs of our students and are fair to teachers/education workers and Catholic ratepayers," the school board said in a release.