Thousands of teachers gather at Kitchener city hall in noon-hour strike rally
CBC News | Posted: February 21, 2020 6:55 PM | Last Updated: February 24, 2020
Members from all four teachers' unions strike together for the first time in 23 years
Image | Crowd 2
Caption: As a lone ice skater used the rink at Kitchener city hall, teachers from four unions and their supporters were at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener as part of a one-day province-wide strike. (Joe Pavia/CBC)
Striking teachers with all four local unions gathered at Kitchener City Hall Friday for a noon-hour strike rally.
Members from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, Elementary Teachers Federation, Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation and the local French-language school boards took part in the event.
Two million students were out of class Friday because of the job action. CBC K-W talked to teachers and their supporters.
Here they are, in their own words.
Image | Kohen and Dean Hrbak
Caption: Student Kohen Hrbak (left) was at Friday's rally in support of his mother, who is a teacher. "We don't like what the Ford government is doing," said his dad Dean. "We do not like the cuts he [Premier Ford] is making to the education system. It's going to affect these guys. In a good five-six years from now that's when we're really going to notice it. (Joe Pavia/CBC)
Image | Ashley from J.F. Carmichael
Caption: Ashley Cangiano is a teacher at J.F. Carmichael elementary in Kitchener. "These are the names of all of my Grade 2/3 students as well as my daughter who is going to be starting kindergarten in the next couple of years. (Joe Pavia/CBC)
Image | Craig Wicken
Caption: Craig Wicken is a co-op/history teacher at Waterloo Oxford Secondary School. "We're at the stage where the government has ground us down to the point where we need to stand up for students rights," said Wicken. "Without us standing up, the education system will suffer and that's not the future I want for my children." (Joe Pavia/CBC)
Image | Cathi Stuart
Caption: Cathi Stuart is a retired teacher and a grandmother. She made her own sign to express how upset she is with the Ontario government. "Smaller class sizes, you can't beat that for a good public education system," said Stuart. "Special Education, ESL ... all really super important." (Joe Pavia/CBC)
Image | OECTA
Caption: Teachers with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association said they would rather be in the classroom. (Joe Pavia/CBC)
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