Parents react to Work to Rule Campaign

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The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario is supposed to give 5 days warning before any work action, which technically they did. But it was not clear if they would strike, or work to rule.

At the end of another school week, parents greeted their children at Earl Kitchener Elementary, and were met with news of the decision that teachers will work to rule, starting Monday.

Noel Allen is a parent and had this to say about the decision.

“I have no problems with the teachers working to rule, I have no problems with them exercising their right to bargain and I really don’t want class sizes to go up.”

Another parent, Parry Lovely said, “a lot of parents might hate me for saying this but I think teachers have got to do what they got to do to make sure that they’re happy so out kids are happy.”

The decision does mean teachers won’t do standardized testing or make comments on report cards. But at this level, the hit is relatively minor.

Amanda Atkinson, a parent, isn’t too worried about it.

“They’re not striking on Monday, so it’s not an issue we have to deal with right now.”

So it appears parents are generally receptive to the work to rule decision so far but ETFO President Sam Hammond has said that if negotiations don’t go as they like, then they could possible walk out and that puts parents in a much more difficult position.

Kate is a Grandma and thinks “it’s an inconvenience. There’s no question about it. It sort of disrupts peoples lives.”

“It’d be a pain, but I mean they’ve got a right to strike and I understand that.”

“There are parents and there are children who would suffer that’s for sure.”