Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Citing the lack of ‘sufficient progress’ being made at the central bargaining table, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) announced they would hold in-person meetings to conduct central strike votes this autumn.
These all-member meetings will be held across the province from mid-September to mid-October.
In a statement on released on the ETFO website, the teachers union says talks have stalled at ETFO’s Education Worker Central Table.
The ETFO says it has repeatedly tried to get the government to talk about improved supports for students with special needs, violence in schools, compensation, fair and transparent hiring practices, workload and working conditions, and smaller class sizes.
“ETFO members have been without an agreement for almost a year. They have been patient, but their patience has run out. We need the Ford government to take bargaining seriously and to act in good faith, as required by law,” ETFO President Karen Brown said in a release. “ETFO’s goal is to reach fair and reasonable agreements without having to take job action. We need the government’s full attention on bargaining so we can address pressing concerns in public education.”
Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Education says his government is focused on keeping kids in class.
“Our government has been bargaining in good faith, meeting over 170 times with all education unions and are focused on securing a deal that keeps kids in class, provides parents with stability and treats educators fairly,” reads a statement released by Lecce. “Threatening another strike and creating anxiety for parents and students just weeks away from the start of the school year is unnecessary and unfair.”
Lecce says the notion of going to private mediation was rejected by the teachers’ unions and says the government is willing to meet ‘every day to negotiate a deal’.
ETFO represents approximately 83,000 members, including public elementary teachers, occasional teachers, designated early childhood educators, education support personnel, and professional support personnel.