Elementary teachers to stop planning new field trips in work to rule ramp up

Ontario’s elementary teachers will soon be ramping up their work-to-rule campaign by not planning any new field trips or distributing letters or memos from schools and boards.

Public high school and elementary teachers are both increasing pressure on the government in the coming week amid tense and plodding contract talks.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario says it will be starting phase two of its work to rule on Tuesday. In addition to the measures affecting field trips and letters being sent home, teachers will not collect money for school-based activities except those for charity, participate in performance appraisals, or post learning goals in the classroom if an administrator asks.

The teachers’ first phase of the work-to-rule campaign, which started Nov. 26, has teachers not completing Term 1 report cards, not participating in any professional learning from their school board or the ministry outside of school hours, and not doing any online training by the ministry.

The Toronto District School Board says elementary schools will remain open and instructional programs will continue with principals and vice-principals taking on additional tasks.

“Should the work-to-rule progress to include further sanctions, it may have a more significant impact on school activities, permits and school operations,” the TDSB said in a statement, warning that schools may be closed should a full withdrawal of services or a full strike by elementary teachers occur.

News of their increasing job action comes as the union representing high school teachers plans one-day strikes on Wednesday in nine school boards. The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation job action follows a province-wide strike a week earlier.

Ontario’s Catholic teachers, meanwhile, will be in a legal strike position on Dec. 21, over the winter break, and while they don’t have any job action plans yet, their union said it should be “another wake-up call” for the government.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association is also angered by the government’s class size and online learning plans.

Elementary teachers have said their key issues are more supports for students with special needs, addressing violence in schools and preserving full-day kindergarten. They are also seeking higher wage increases than the government’s offer.