Talks Between Elementary Teachers and the Province Have Completely Broken Down

Wednesday, 16 October 2019 at 15:56

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario has asked the Minister of Labour to appoint a conciliation officer as talks with the Province are at a virtual standstill according to the ETFO.

ONTARIO - The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario has asked the Minister of Labour to appoint a conciliation officer as talks with the Province have broken down.

ETFO collective agreements expired on August 31st, 2019. Bargaining has reached a virtual standstill according to the ETFO.
At any point during negotiations, Ontario’s Labour Relations Act allows a union or employer to request third-party assistance through a process called conciliation. ETFO President Sam Hammond says a conciliation officer will meet with ETFO and school board bargaining agencies to try to help reach central agreements.

“ETFO’s goal is to reach fair agreements for our members that also enhance learning conditions for Ontario’s elementary students. These are achievable goals, and ETFO will do everything it can to reach them. That includes participating in the legal steps of the collective bargaining process, like conciliation and taking strike votes.”

Hammond says the ETFO has been clear at the bargaining table about what they want to achieve.

"ETFO expects the same clarity from the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), Council of Trustees’ Associations (CTA) and the government but we're not getting it on many very important issues at this point. Government representatives at the bargaining table have been asked, point blank, whether the Ford government intends to make funding cuts to elementary education in 2020. All we are getting are evasive non-answers. That is completely unacceptable.”

According to an ETFO press release the Province is seeking cuts of up to 2.5% in overall education sector spending. As part of achieving that reduction, the government expects ETFO teacher and occasional teacher members to agree to up to $150 million dollars in collective agreement strips.

The ETFO has already been holding central strike vote meetings throughout the province. The results of the central strike votes will be announced in early November.