GUELPH – The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) was set to resume negotiations with the provincial government on March 11.
“ETFO has not been engaged in full withdrawal of services for the past two weeks. The Ford government missed a real opportunity to get back to the table in that time,” said ETFO first vice-president Karen Campbell in a March 9 press release.
“Let’s be clear; ETFO has been ready to resume negotiations since February. If these talks are unsuccessful, ETFO will resume rotating strike action on the Monday following March Break.”
The union representing elementary teachers and occasional teachers in the Upper Grand District School Board said the government has been making misleading statements about its commitment to improving public education and willingness to negotiate.
Union officials say they have debunked some of the government’s statements, noting:
– more than $200 million in funding for special education has yet to be fully restored for 2019-20 or future years, does not account for inflation and is still far from the level needed to meet student needs;
– per-student funding has declined by three per cent after adjusting for inflation;
– school boards would return to nepotism and cronyism in teacher hiring practices; and
– Ministry of Education funding for Grades 4 to 8 class size averages was reduced, despite feedback during public consultations that rejected larger class sizes.
On March 9 minister of education Stephen Lecce said it is the time to reach a deal amenable to both parties.
“Now that the mediator has called us back to negotiate, the time is now for the union to cease escalation and focus on negotiating a deal that keeps students in class,” Lecce said.
He added the government is “focused on getting … a positive deal that effectively freezes classroom sizes, provides full support for special education, maintains full-day kindergarten and ensures merit-based hiring.”
