School teachers in some districts across Ontario are on strike or are preparing to take job action, leaving thousands of students in the lurch as the end of the school year nears.
Here's what you need to know about the labour disputes.
Which teachers are on strike?
Public secondary school teachers from the Peel District, Rainbow District and Durham District are on strike, meaning classes are closed for students of these school boards.
Other school boards that could soon see secondary school teachers hit the picket lines include: Waterloo, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and Halton.
What about the elementary schools?
The union representing Ontario's 73,000 public elementary teachers said its members will be taking province-wide "central strike" action starting on May 11.
The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario said the job action will begin with the withdrawal of administrative services, but schools will not be closed. The union has to give at least five days notice, meaning Wednesday is the soonest the withdrawal can begin.
CTV Toronto obtained a confidential release outlining the job action. Starting May 11 teachers will not do the following: Conduct EQAO testing related activities, prepare report card comments, attend staff meeting or grade meetings.
Early childhood educators and education support workers will not be participating in the job action, ETFO said.
The province’s English Catholic schools are not currently being affected.
What are the main issues behind the labour dispute?
There are two levels of bargaining for Ontario teachers: a local level between the union and the local school board, and a central level between the province, union leaders and school board associations.
Main monetary issues -- including wages, benefits and paid leave -- are negotiated at the central level, while working conditions specific to each school board are dealt with at the local level.
At the local level of bargaining, issues vary according to each board and often relate to administrative and human resources issues.
At the central level, the Ontario Secondary School Federation – the union representing Ontario's public secondary school teachers -- says it is most concerned about class sizes and teacher prep time.
The ETFO said it is taking strike action because of demands tabled by the provincial government and the Ontario Public School Board Association. These demands are related to increasing class sizes, directing teachers on their prep time, and hiring practices.
Is there a resolution in sight?
At the local level some school boards have accused the union of using the strike as a way of putting pressure on the province. The school boards say they can't reach a deal at the local level until a deal has been reached at the provincial level.
Talks broke down at both the central and local level over the weekend, but the Education Minister Liz Sandals said she’s confident a deal can be reached.
Peel District School Board Chair Janet McDougald said in a statement that the OSSTF is “using the excuse of not reaching local agreements as a cover for their strategy to pressure the provincial table.
“There is no legitimate reason for Peel schools to be on strike – none.”
But OSSTF President Paul Elliot said the union wouldn’t consider striking if issues at the local level, including teacher appraisals and personnel files, weren’t serious. “These things wouldn’t be taken lightly, there’s a lot of discussions that went on to reach this point,” he said.
Labour relations expert Brendan Sweeney said the province may step in and enact back-to-work legislation if the strike carries on too long and puts the rest of the school year at risk.
He added that this may be one of the reasons Ontario's public elementary school teachers are beginning with work-to-rule job action, as a full-blown walkout could quickly prompt the province to force them back to work.
How can I stay updated on the strike news?
Parents can check the following websites and Twitter feeds to stay up to date on the latest strike news.
Peel District School Board
Durham District School Board
Rainbow District School Board
Ontario Secondary School Federation
Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario
