Elementary teachers continue rotating strikes at four Ontario school boards

Striking teachers from Williamson Road Junior Public School in Toronto cheer as passing cars honk their horns in support on Monday, January 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunnteach

TORONTO — The union representing Ontario's public elementary teachers will hold another one-day strike today to ramp up pressure on the government during tense contract talks.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario says the latest job action will happen today at the Avon Maitland, Halton, Niagara, and Lakehead school boards.

The daily walkouts this week are just the latest development in escalating tensions between the province and its four major teachers' unions, which have been without contracts since August.

The elementary teachers are following in the footsteps of the secondary school teachers' union, which has been holding rotating strikes since mid-December.

ETFO President Sam Hammond has said the main issues in bargaining include classroom size, resources for students with special needs, and protection of full-day kindergarten.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce has said compensation is the main issue, with the government offering a one per cent increase and the teachers' union asking for two per cent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2020.