It’s a day off for elementary students in Pakenham, Almonte and Carleton Place today. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario’s latest one day strike has closed schools within the Upper Canada District School board today. In addition to elementary students, classes are also cancelled for Grade 7 and Grade 8 students, even those who attend a secondary school or specialized program. Meanwhile, the union says it plans to escalate job action next week if a new contract isn’t reached with the government by Friday. The union plans one day strikes at the Renfrew County board on Monday of next week and then at the Upper Canada board on Wednesday, to be followed by a province wide strike on Thursday, leaving children without classes for two days. All four major teachers’ unions are engaged in some form of job action — from work-to-rule campaigns to rotating strikes — to protest a lack of progress in contract talks. Meanwhile, contract talks are back on between the Ontario government and ETFO. A government-appointed mediator has called the two sides back to the table, and they’ll meet today for the first time in more than a month.
