Many Local Schools Closed, Some Open During 1-Day Strike

Some local schools are closed today, as Ontario's public high school teachers hold a one-day walkout.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation - which started a work-to-rule job action campaign just over a week ago - says its roughly 60,000 members - who mainly work at public high schools - are walking off the job for the day, to try and pressure the provincial government and school boards for a new collective agreement.

The Algoma District School Board warns all of its schools - not just the secondary schools, but elementary schools, as well - are closed today, as members of the union work at both levels.

Similarly, the Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon and the Conseil public du Grand Nord de l'Ontario say all of their schools are closed, though Nouvelon notes any of its daycares and pre- and after-school programs remain open

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board - meanwhile - is assuring that its schools are open - though the board employs some members of the union, it says they only amount to about 25 noon-hour aides, so classes can continue.

While the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario also launched a job action campaign last week, they haven't announced plans for their roughly 83,000 members to escalate.