Upper Grand District School Board chairman Bob Borden said no action is expected by teachers after talks between the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) and the province broke off over the weekend.
“Nothing has changed,” he said. “We have an agreement with the local union that extra curricular activity will continue.”
The OSSTF advised its members to consider withdrawing from extra curricular activities, not meeting with parents outside of school hours, not filling in for absent teachers and not attending staff meetings as options individual unions could take to back their demands.
Teachers’ unions have launched a legal challenge of Bill 115, passed by the provincial government in early September, which freezes wages and prohibits strike action for two years. The unions claim the bill is unconstitutional.
Paul Rawlinson, president of the OSSTF District 18 teacher bargaining unit, which represents about 800 high school teachers, said action taken by his union should not impact students.
“It’s largely administrative, so the kids shouldn’t notice any difference,” he said of the current actions being taken. “It should be business as usual for the kids. Student safety shouldn’t be affected.”
“We’re not withdrawing extra curriculars,” he said, adding withdrawal of that service was never suggested by the provincial union. “Assemblies are being held and school trips.”
Talks on non-monetary issues continue between the board and its unions.
Also in a similar situation are unions representing educational assistants, support staff, office, clerical and technical staff at the Wellington Catholic District School Board. Catholic teachers already approved a contract with the province earlier this year.
Don Drone, director of education, said board schools have not been negatively impacted by strike action.
“We haven’t, at this point, had any major disruptions at all,” Drone said. He added no extra curricular activities or student progress reports have been cancelled or postponed.
According to Borden, strike action can continue until an agreement is reached between the OSSTF and the province or a local agreement is reached and approved by the province. Otherwise, if a deal is not reached by Dec. 31, the province can impose one.
It’s a scenario Borden hopes will be avoided. Rawlinson is also optimistic a deal will be in place by the end of the year.
“I think we’re hopeful before the Dec. 31 deadline there’s some creative thinking (that) will work,” he said regarding talks between the union and province.
