OSSTF Toronto MEDIA RELEASE       

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019

Over 150 TDSB high school teachers without contracts despite job guarantees from Doug Ford

(Toronto)  Due to education funding cuts and a hiring freeze imposed by the Ontario Government, 155 Toronto District School Board high school teachers have been fully laid off or reduced to half time work.

Meetings for these teachers are being hosted by the Toronto District School Board at the Board’s office, 5050 Yonge Street, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 10AM and 1PM.

“Despite agreement to extend this year’s staffing process, there simply isn’t the funding to ensure everyone who had a job last year is back at work,” said OSSTF Toronto President Leslie Wolfe. “Add these layoffs to the teaching positions that were lost through attrition and the result is some 1700 fewer classes for students to take, and 100’s fewer adults to work with students, and this is only the first year of Doug Ford’s plan to cut over $1B from schools, including 25% of all high school teachers in Ontario.”

OSSTF Toronto calls on Doug Ford to meet with laid off TDSB high school teachers so he can explain why he broke his election promise that no front line worker will lose their job as a result of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Government cuts to education funding.

“Some of our Members and the public took Doug Ford at his word when he said jobs would be protected.  They voted for him.  Now there are teachers out of work.  Education Minister Lecce has tried to blame the school board for this, but let’s be clear:  School Boards can only hire the staff they’ve been funded for by the provincial government.  Without the appropriate funding, people get fired and programs for students suffer,” said Wolfe

Laid off teachers and OSSTF Toronto President Leslie Wolfe will be available to talk to members of the media at the TDSB meetings at 5050 Yonge Street, 10AM & 1PM.

Contact Information:

Leslie Wolfe, President, OSSTF Toronto, 416-393-8900

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