Ontario elementary teachers to give details of planned strike action

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TORONTO — Ontario parents should find out today whether the province’s elementary schools will be closed Monday because of a planned teachers’ strike.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario is planning a province-wide strike next week, but has so far refused to say whether it will be a complete withdrawal of services, which would close schools, or an administrative work-to-rule.

Union president Sam Hammond is expected to outline the preferred path at a news conference scheduled for this afternoon.

Education Minister Liz has urged the union to announce its plans as soon as possible, saying parents need to make alternate arrangements.

Under legislation brought in by the Liberal government last year, employees must give five days’ notice before striking.

Sandals says she will consider amending the legislation so that unions must specify what kind of strike they’re planning.

The elementary teachers’ strike comes as more than 70,000 high school students in the province sit home because teachers in the Toronto-area boards of Peel and Durham as well as in the Sudbury area have walked out.