Kids are returning to school this fall amid some uncertainty as teachers continue to negotiate for new contracts. Here's what you need to know.
The following unions are in talks with the provincial government: the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario , the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation , the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association , and the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens .
All but the OSSTF have rejected the province’s offer of binding interest arbitration, which would ultimately put the final bargaining decision on a neutral third party. This process could, if agreed upon, help avoid a strike in public high schools.The short answer is no. Work action won’t likely happen for a few months, if at all.
All three remaining unions have said they will go forward with a strike vote in the fall if negotiations continue to fall flat. The votes are scheduled for mid-September to mid-November.ETFO has said it is moving forward with next steps and , a formal mediation process in which a third-party is brought in to work with both sides and help find a resolution.If no agreement is made during conciliation, a “no-board” notice will be issued. At this point, a 16-day countdown to a legal strike or work action will begin.There are a number of job actions teachers can take other than a full-out strike. For example, teachers can remove themselves from extra-curricular activities, pledging to do the minimum in the classroom.
Last year, when the province forcibly legislated a contract with education support workers and passed a bill making strikes illegal, unions took part in one province-wide single-day walkout, as well as rotating one-day strikes, in defiance. During this time, kids were unable to be in the classrooms.Teachers have been without a contract for over a year. According to a document obtained by CTV News Toronto, the province has offered teachers an increase of 1.25 per cent per year, for four years.
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