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No extracurriculars say teachers, as new school year draws closer

The fact a new school year is still about six weeks away didn't stop English public high school teachers from announcing they are withdrawing from extracurricular activities on Monday, according to a July 16 media report.

The fact a new school year is still about six weeks away didn't stop English public high school teachers from announcing they are withdrawing from extracurricular activities on Monday, according to a July 16 media report.

As reported by the Globe and Mail, the extracurricular strike will mostly affect sports teams that do pre-fall training.

Other announcements are likely over the next few weeks for public elementary, Catholic and French schools, the paper reported.

The province's four teachers' unions started bargaining almost a year ago. Teacher contracts expired last August. Talks at the central bargaining table have stalled for three of the four unions.

Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation members at three school boards — including Rainbow District School Board — went on full strike this past spring.

No talks have taken place since May, and none are planned, said the Globe and Mail.

The union will return if it is no longer asked to discuss increasing class sizes, OSSTF spokeswoman Lori Foote told the Globe and Mail.

Elementary teachers’ talks also broke off in May, and they began an administrative strike, which could escalate in the fall if there’s no negotiating progress. An update is expected around Aug. 20.

Catholic school teachers’ talks broke off late last week. 

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association bargained for 12 days in June, and four last week, said the Globe and Mail article. OECTA will be in legal position to strike in August, but the union will not go on full strike, and students will be back in class.

Teachers at Ontario’s Francophone schools are still negotiating, with a conciliation meeting set for July 23 and more talks scheduled in August.

- NorthernLife.ca