[fox46]

This is very sad news. I will certainly miss seeing 188 in competition this year.

The pattern seems to be that the teams who have strong parent and sponsor support (offsite build facilities particularily) have been the most successful in breaking away from their schools and forming "community" groups. Those who rely primarily on teacher and staff support from their schools, particularily for administrative and organizational duties seem to be dissappearing without a trace in most cases. Even my old team which hasn't missed a competition since my high school friends and I started it 13 years ago has dropped out. It kills me to see the growth of FIRST that has occurred in Ontario over the last decade cut so drastically over a labour action where nobody wins.

The Liberals will file an application Thursday morning with the Ontario Labour Relations Board, seeking to block the illegal strike

This same action effectively stopped Air Canada flight attendants from striking last year so I see no reason why the government won't succeed with the teachers.