February 18, 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), which represents Catholic teachers in the province, has notified all school boards that, if an agreement is not reached at the provincial bargaining table, its members will participate rotating strikes beginning next week.  This full withdrawal of services (full strike action) is scheduled for St. Clair Catholic on Monday, February 24, 2020.  This is in addition to the previously announced province-wide full strike action on Friday, February 21, 2020.

St. Clair Catholic is committed to the safety of all students and staff in our schools.  Therefore, if no settlement is reached and full strike action proceeds, the Board will have no choice but to close all elementary and secondary schools to students on:

• Friday, February 21, 2020 and
• Monday, February 24, 2020

You may also hear or read media reports about additional strike actions by other teachers’ federations and associations, which may impact other Ontario school boards on different days.  As of today, the only currently scheduled days for full strike action that will affect St. Clair Catholic schools are the Friday, February 21, 2020 and Monday, February 24, 2020 full withdrawal of services by OECTA. 

We continue to be hopeful that a collective agreement which is fair to all parties can be negotiated at the provincial bargaining table.  Should an agreement be reached that results in a cancellation of these scheduled days of action, you will be notified by direct email, Edsby posts, the Labour Relations Update page on the Board website, and our Facebook and Twitter platforms.   

Please continue to visit the Board website at www.st-clair.net for further updates regarding labour relations.

Sincerely,

Deb Crawford

Director of Education