Teachers on strike in Waterloo Region
Posted Dec 18, 2012 10:37:23 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Waterloo Region District School Board is being hit by a one day strike by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.
35,000 teachers across the province are off the job today.
Locally, teachers are protesting at a number of high traffic areas including Homer Watson and Ottawa in Kitchener, Ottawa and Westmount, as well as Fischer-Hallman and Erb in Waterloo.
Greg Weiler is the local president of the ETFO and tells 570 News they picked those locations because the vast majority of their schools are located in residential areas where parking would be an issue.
“We wanted to make it as easy as possible for everyone, not just our members, but the general public as well.” Weiler told 570 News.
He says talks are set to resume with the local board on Thursday.
Teachers will also gather for a rally at Bingemans at 2:30 this afternoon.
Linda Fabi, Director of Education for the Waterloo Region District School Board, tells 570 News that the walkout means board-run child care programs will not be operating today.
She says third-party providers are continuing to offer services.
Fabi adds it was important to let parents know in advance when the walkouts would occur in order for parents to have alternative child care in place.
The ETFO announced on Saturday they would be striking here today.
Teachers are protesting Bill 115, which they say takes away their collective bargaining rights.
