ETFO Not Returning to Extracurricular Sports

While the Ontario Secondary School teachers were advised last week by OSSTF to resume voluntary activities, their elementary counterparts, represented by ETFO, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, announced Thursday they would not be returning to extracurricular activities, including sports.

“While we have experienced a marked and welcome change in the Wynne government’s approach to addressing its relationship with teachers, this has yet to translate into real change,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond in an official ETFO media release. “In these circumstances, ETFO’s advice regarding voluntary/ extra-curricular activities remains unchanged.”

This means Chatham-Kent elementary school students will be without activities including track and field, and soccer this spring.

OSSTF decided last week to act in good faith after discussions with Kathleen Wynne and her Liberal government.

Both teachers federations have had ongoing protests since September following the implementation of Bill 155, which removed teachers’ democratic rights.