The union representing French teachers in Ontario is ramping up its pressure on the Ford government.
It has announced all 12,000 regular and occasional teachers will walk out one day a week, province-wide, every week. The first walkout is planned for February 13th.
AEFO President Rémi Sabourin stated: "AEFO is waging several battles. On the one hand, school boards continue to reject the concerns of Franco-Ontarian Teachers. On the other hand, the Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, and Premier Ford refuse to maintain, notably, financing earmarked for special needs students. We have already witnessed the Ford government's gutting of the Ontario Autism Program for children and their families. It is appalling to see them now taking aim at the success of our special needs students. These are some of the reasons why AEFO members are preparing picket lines. They are ready to use whatever means necessary to fight for their rights and for working conditions that are conducive to students' learning."
This escalation of job action follows recent meetings at the central bargaining table where negotiations failed.