Elementary Sports On Hold Immediately

There will be no more basketball, volleyball, cross country, or any other sport or extracurricular offered by elementary schools across Ontario and Chatham-Kent after the elementary teachers union stepped up their job action this week.

Working without a contract since August 2014, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) halted all extracurriculars as of Wednesday when no contract agreement was reached.

Although a media blackout is in effect, it is believed that progress has been made in negotiations between ETFO and the Province.

Premier Kathleen Wynne has granted school board’s the freedom to begin docking pay of elementary school teachers who opt out of some activities, such as report card writing, beginning November 1.

Extracurricular withdrawal however, is not considered to be an action worthy of docking pay by the school boards or Province.

Elementary school sports are not expected to return in any form until ETFO and the Ontario government have agreed to contract terms.