Ontario Teachers’ Strike, A strong sentiment for strike action echoes among Ontario’s teacher unions as another union moves towards a potential strike, fueled by a significant vote in favour of such action to prompt progress in stalled bargaining discussions. The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) unveiled that an impressive 97% of its members endorsed a strike mandate on Thursday.
Rene Jansen in de Wal, the president of OECTA, conveyed in a statement the strength of the mandate, emphasizing that it clearly communicates to the Ford Conservative government and Catholic school board representatives that the teachers yearn for substantial advancements and productive outcomes in negotiations. He stated these should tackle the deficiencies in resources, supports, and time that teachers require to optimally serve their students.
While negotiations will continue for now, de Wal iterated that the government and trustee representatives should comprehend that the 45,000-strong Catholic teachers are unified, ready to do whatever it takes to secure an agreement benefiting all students, families, and teachers. This development follows the news of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario securing a 95% strike vote, although no immediate plans for a strike are in place yet.
Ontario Teachers’ Strike: Insights from Government and Unions
Ontario Teachers’ Strike, The tension between Ontario’s teachers’ unions and the provincial government is intensifying, with both elementary and Catholic teachers providing their unions with strong strike mandates. Last Wednesday, elementary teachers demonstrated that the ongoing negotiations could lead to a greater conflict as 95% of members empowered their union to call a strike. Following this, English Catholic teachers voted 97% in favor of a similar action the next day.
Both union representatives and government officials responded to this news with caution, emphasizing that these mandates do not necessarily imply that schools will shut down this fall. With two key teachers’ unions now edging towards a strike, we look at the positions of both parties and the stance of other major unions in Ontario.
Ontario Teachers’ Strike, The Government’s Perspective
Shortly after Ontario’s elementary teachers voted to authorize a strike, Education Minister Stephen Lecce addressed reporters at Queen’s Park. He frequently referred to a binding arbitration agreement that the government recently reached with the union for secondary school teachers, presenting this as his favored resolution.
Lecce asserts that all families in Ontario want to ensure that children stay in schools and the government completely agrees. Referencing the agreement with OSSTF, the union for public high school teachers, Lecce questioned why a similar agreement couldn’t be reached with the union representing English public elementary teachers.
Lecce believes the strike mandate doesn’t alter the negotiation dynamics for the Ford government significantly. “Teacher unions have historically conducted strike votes regularly,” he noted, stating that it doesn’t necessarily impact the negotiation process. Lecce considered the recent vote as “expected”, stating it’s “usual” for unions to vote for strike mandates.
The Education Minister didn’t specify the key points of contention in the negotiations. Addressing a question about wages, he mentioned that “compensation has traditionally been a hurdle,” before reiterating his support for binding arbitration. Lecce emphasized that there is still “flexibility” in the negotiation timetable from the government’s perspective.
His primary objective, he stated, is “to secure a deal that ensures children remain in school.”
Ontario Teachers’ Strike, ETFO’s Standpoint
The president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, Karen Brown, in an interview with Global News, indicated that the recent strike vote reflects the growing impatience among teachers. Brown voiced her members’ dissatisfaction with the slow progress of negotiations. She emphasized that the vote is a potent signal to the government to take the negotiations seriously and progress on the contract discussions.
Karen further mentioned that another negotiation session is scheduled for October 20, and the approved strike mandate will be a crucial topic of that discussion, serving as a negotiation tool for the union. However, she clarified that this does not imply an immediate strike, as there’s a comprehensive process to follow.
Late in August, ETFO requested the Ministry of Labor to appoint a conciliator for the challenging negotiations, more than a year after the expiry of the union’s contract. Now, a ministry-appointed conciliator is involved in the negotiations, with meeting dates set for October 20 and 27.
The effect of the conciliation process on the classroom environment depends on the negotiation’s progress. If negotiations fail, the Ministry of Labor may not appoint a conciliation panel, which would then start a countdown to a possible strike. After the issuance of the no-board notice, the union must wait 17 days before legally initiating a strike, providing time for schools and parents to prepare.
Brown noted that compensation, benefits, and school violence are ongoing issues in negotiations with the province. She also emphasized that an arbitration process couldn’t resolve more comprehensive workplace issues beyond salaries.
Regarding the strike vote, Brown expressed that going on strike is the last option, and nobody wants it.
OECTA’s Perspective
The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), in its statement, communicated the unity of the 45,000 teachers it represents and their readiness to take any necessary steps to reach an agreement with the Ford government.
The union’s president, René Jansen in de Wal, stated that the strike mandate sends a powerful message to the government. He also pointed out that more negotiation dates are in sight. Jansen in de Wal accused Lecce of continual misinformation and reassured parents that a strike vote does not automatically result in a strike. He clarified that a strong strike mandate could even make a strike less likely if the Minister and Catholic school board representatives take note of the message. He further stated that the Association could continue negotiations confidently because of the support from Catholic teachers.
Positions of Other Unions
The union for secondary school teachers in Ontario, The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, has consented to binding arbitration with the Ford administration. However, the union that represents French teachers in Ontario, along with OECTA and ETFO, has declined to accept the offer for binding arbitration.
