Picket lines up at seven city high schools

Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation members with the Rainbow District School Board hit the pickets lines outside seven city high schools this morning.

Talks between the union and the board broke down on Saturday.

“The employer’s refusal to engage in real negotiations today has made it clear that job action is inevitable,” the union said in a Saturday press release. “With this in mind, and out of respect for our members, parents, and students, the union is announcing Monday’s strike action now so preparations for the closure of schools can be made.”

James Clyke, the president of District 3, said in a press release the teachers would prefer to be in class with their students than on the picket lines.

“But this employer’s unwillingness to negotiate in any meaningful way has really left us no option,” he said in a press release. “It is clear that this board has completely allied itself with the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) plan to frustrate bargaining at local tables. It leaves us questioning whose interests they’re really serving with this approach.”

As a result of this decision by the teachers’ union, Rainbow District School Board said it has been forced to cancel all instructional programs for students in grades 9 to 12.

“The Board came to the table ready to negotiate and responded to all union proposals," said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar in a news release. "The union chose not to respond and advised the board, through the mediator, that the parties were at an impasse, they did not see any possibility of progress or a settlement, and that there would be a strike as of Monday, April 27, 2015. In fact, the union suggested the time would be better spent preparing for the strike.”

Pickets are set up at:

The following schools will be affected:
-Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School
-Lockerby Composite School
-Sudbury Secondary School
-Lasalle Secondary School
-Chelmsford Valley District Composite School
-Confederation Secondary School
-Lively District Secondary School

The Greater Sudbury Police Service wish to inform the public and motorists that there may possible traffic delays beginning today in the following areas.

-Loach’s Road in Sudbury
-Ramsey View Court and Walford Road in Sudbury
-Mackenzie Street, Baker Street, College Street, Davidson Street in Sudbury
-Lamothe Street and Kennedy Street in Sudbury
-Highway 144 and Cote Street in Chelmsford
-Main Street in Val Caron
-Sixth Avenue and Fifth Avenue in Lively
The presence of picket lines at these locations may compound traditional traffic delays in the morning between 7:30 and 9 a.m. and again in the afternoon between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., as school staff attend and leave these schools.


The strike liaison officers from GSPS has been working cooperatively with executive from OSSTF and management from the Rainbow School Board to ensure public safety, mediate issues at the strike lines and reduce the impact that the strike may have on area residents, faculty, staff and the general public.

The police service is asking drivers who travel in the aforementioned locations at the specified times to be considerate of others, and practice safe driving. Police also suggest allowing for extra travel time.