TORONTO

More Ontario elementary teachers will strike on Friday

Published Sunday, January 19, 2020 12:09PM EST Last Updated Monday, January 20, 2020 12:44PM EST

FILE - AN empty teacher's desk is pictured at the front of a empty classroom at Mcgee Secondary school in Vancouver on Sept. 5, 2014. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press)

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TORONTO -- The union representing Ontario's elementary school teachers has announced another one-day strike on Friday at Ontario North East and Bluewater school boards.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario has now planned one-day strikes at various school boards across the province on every school day of the coming week.

The first strikes are scheduled to take place at the Toronto, York Region and Ottawa-Carleton school boards on Monday.

ETFO President Sam Hammond said the union is trying to put pressure on Ontario's education minister to come back to the bargaining table.

The union has said that classroom sizes, the Kindergarten program and support for students with special needs are among the most important issues.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce has said that compensation remains the biggest sticking point.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2020.