Toronto’s Catholic elementary teachers threaten to strike next week

Toronto’s Catholic elementary teachers are threatening to a strike on Monday if they do not get a tentative deal with the school board.

The union sent a memo to teachers on Tuesday night saying the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) was going to deduct pay from staff that have refused to take part in testing of gifted students under their current work-to-rule campaign.

The memo says the union plans to start a full withdrawal of instruction and services in one or more schools starting on Monday.

Related:

• Lecce, Moore pen joint letter to parents ahead of return to class

• Parents protesting TCDSB staff cuts at west-end school

“Now more than ever, we will take action against an employer who believes it is acceptable to punish some of our members for adhering to their right to engage in legal strike actions,” reads the memo from union president Julie Altomare-DiNunzio.

“This is a pivotal moment for all our members, and by standing in solidarity against the strong-armed actions of this Board, we will better protect the well-being of all members and their families.”

Education Minister Stephen Lecce released a statement on Wednesday, saying the recent discourse from the teachers is wrong.

“These teacher union strikes are an affront to the interests of children who deserve to be in school,” said Lecce in the statement. “On behalf of tens of thousands of families who seek stability as Ontario gets through the challenges of Omicron: call off the strikes.”

In a letter sent to families, the Toronto Catholic District School Board said it was “shocked” to receive the strike notice.

“It is inexcusable that the local union (TECT) wants to halt student learning by threatening to strike after all that students have been through during the pandemic in order to prevent the Board from providing absenteeism support and managing staffing processes,” reads the response.

Toronto’s Catholic elementary teachers have been without a contract since 2019.