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Advance
The
WEEKENDER
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2009
SERVING NORTH GRENVILLE AND AREA SINCE 1991
Ontario's elementary teachers warn of strike NATHAN JAHN WEEKENDER STAFF With more than 73,000 of Ontario's elementary school teacher's preparing to strike the question on most people's mind is simple: why? The Jan. 8 announcement from David Clegg, president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), that put school boards "on notice" that teachers could pottentially strike if, he says, "significant progress" is not made in contract negotiations by Feb. 18. Initially, negotiations for a new contract were happening between the province and the ETFO but have since moved back to individual school board level. The reasoning being that the province is putting in the lion's share of the money, said Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) Chair Greg Pietersma. "The province had put a package forward that would have given a 12.5 per cent increase over four years and also includes a number of enhancements," he said. "(The province) made it clear to all parties that if a deal was not worked out, that offer would come off the table." The union, last month, allowed the deadline to pass on a proposed "framework" deal that was accepted by all other public school teachers in Ontario. Now the province
has made it clear, through Education Minister Kathleen Wynne, that the original deal is no longer available and it would only be funding a four per cent increase over two years. Anything above and beyond that has to be financed at a local level. "The tri-lateral negotiatons between boards, the union and the ministry failed to come up with a provincial agreement," said Pietersma. "This is unlike the other bargaining units, which all came to an agreement in the timeline put forward by the province." Teachers could be on strike as early as March if negotiations fail. UCDSB has more than 21,000 elementary students, 13,000 secondary students and employs more than 5,500 staff. The board covers Lanark, Leeds, Grenville, Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, Prescott and Russell. The Ottawa Catholic District School Board (OCDSB) has 80 schools with more than 39,000 students. If the teachers do in fact go on strike in March, it could leave more than 50,000 students without proof of the year's education they just received. The Weekender will continue to proviode updates as they occur. nathan.jahn@metroland. com
N. JAHN / WEEKENDER STAFF
This was the scene on Tuesday evening as the entire region was hit by a massive cold front. The incoming cold air combined with the wet snow led to icy, cold conditions as many vehicles went into the ditch.
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