Niagara teachers join in walkouts

Elementary schools in Niagara and northwestern Ontario will be closed Tuesday as part of rotating single-day walkouts across the province.

Teachers in the Timmins and Stratford areas have already given notice and will start their one-day walkouts on Monday.

Education minister Laurel Broten said earlier this week that she would not interfere with the walkouts, but said the government is prepared to intervene if strike action escalates further.

Teachers are angry over Bill 115 that dictates the terms of their contracts and restricts their ability to strike. Union leaders say the legislation takes away their right to collective bargaining.

Beginning on Monday, teachers in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board will no longer take part in any extracurricular activities, but have not said they will be walking off the job.

Teachers across the province have promised to give parents 72-hours notice of any action.