Ontario’s education unions have served notice to begin bargaining new collective agreements with the government, with some teachers and education workers already preparing for the possibility of a strike in September.
On Wednesday, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, Ontario School Board Council of Unions (CUPE-OSBCU), Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and L’Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens each served notice to bargain.
Bargaining must now legally begin within 15 days.
The unions represent more than 255,000 teachers and education workers across the province.
Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra delivers remarks at a school in Ottawa last December.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
David Mastin, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, said the unions hope to work productively with the province, but said reaching a deal before the start of the next school year could be unlikely.
“We hope the government comes to the table with a changed perspective, and a perspective that’s looking to find solutions that are centred in improving the system and not destroying it. If that is the case, there’s no reason we can’t get something achieved before Labour Day,” he said. “But all patterns would suggest that that’s not likely going to be the case.”
Mr. Mastin said his members are not “expecting the worst,” but are preparing for it.
“We are preparing for strike votes. Not that we’re hoping to have to use that, but we’re preparing for strike votes. The urgency of the situation would demand that we prepare for that,” he said.
The education unions’ current four-year contracts with the province expire on Aug. 31. Negotiations over education agreements often continue until after the previous contracts expire, which doesn’t necessarily result in a strike.
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Class sizes and the need for more staff in schools – including educational assistants, social workers, nurses and child and youth workers – will be the top issues at the bargaining table, Mr. Mastin said.
“All of us are feeling the impacts of the lack of supports for students who are struggling,” he said.
Mr. Mastin said he expects the government will want to make changes to teachers’ sick leave provisions to reduce the number of sick days available.
Currently, teachers are allotted 11 sick days per school year at full pay, and can access 120 days of short-term leave at 90 per cent of their salary.
Mr. Mastin said his union will not accept any cuts to the current system.
“The message that all of us will collectively send is, don’t bother. There will be no strips in this round of bargaining,” he said.
The Ford government has underfunded education by $6.4-billion since taking office in 2018, said Martha Hradowy, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation.
Martha Hradowy is president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, one of numerous education unions whose contracts with the province expire Aug. 31.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
That figure comes from an analysis conducted by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, an Ottawa-based think tank.
Much more investment is needed to support students, especially those in special education programs, Ms. Hradowy said.
“We have students who aren’t able to go to school because there aren’t supports in the schools to be able to have them be there safely,” she said. “We’re at a breaking point. There’s so much strain in the system.”
Ms. Hradowy also wants to get rid of mandatory e-learning. Currently, high school students must complete at least two online learning credits to graduate, unless they formally opt out through their school boards.
“It’s not working. Kids don’t want it. Parents don’t want it,” Ms. Hradowy said. “It should always be optional and not mandatory.”
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Under new changes recently introduced by the province, unions will be negotiating with the Council of Ontario Directors of Education, not the Ontario Public School Boards Association and the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, which served as the employer bargaining agencies in the past.
Ms. Hradowy said the change will make no difference to bargaining.
“It doesn’t matter who sits across the table. The government holds the purse strings,” she said.
The province is optimistic a deal can be reached that avoids a strike, said Emma Testani, a spokeswoman for Education Minister Paul Calandra.
“We remain optimistic that all sides can work together in good faith toward fair and responsible agreements that support students, families, educators and taxpayers,“ she said in a statement.
“While there will be important discussions ahead, all parties share the same goal of keeping students in the classroom, maintaining stability in our schools and supporting strong student outcomes across the province.”