KINBURN – Stonecrest Elementary teachers kicked off a weekly picket today (March 11) designed to publicly show their support of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) during collective bargaining but have zero impact on the students attending class a couple of hundred feet away.

Stonecrest teachers informed the school’s council of the action last week of the action through a letter.

“As you are aware, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario has been participating in strike action against the proposed public education cuts,” the letter read. “We are writing to let you know that Stonecrest teachers will be doing a weekly picket on Stonecrest Road near our school. This will be the first time we will be visible to our Stonecrest community.”

The first picket was this morning from 8:35 to 9 a.m. and a second one was scheduled this afternoon from 2:20 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. Picketers marched back and forth along Stonecrest Road in front of school property. 

For the afternoon picket, educators scheduled for recess supervision did not take part in the picket and teachers who wanted to join the picket did so on their lunch break.

Around 40 teachers and what appeared to be parents and children took part in the morning picket protesting what ETFO calls cuts to education related to negotiations with the province on a new contract.

“We are inviting parents/guardians and students to join us at either of these times,” the teachers said. “Students must be under the supervision of an attending parent/guardian at these times. We so greatly appreciate any support and help you can provide with communicating this message.”