Dates set for Ontario teacher contract talks with Ford government

These first meetings will “work to establish the ground rules for negotiations,” the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association told its members in a bulletin sent Friday, obtained by the Star. “Typically, the ground rules are modelled on the previous round of negotiations, setting the procedural rules for how negotiations will take place and clarifying the parties’ mutual understanding and expectations.”

The initial talks will also “determine which issues will be negotiated centrally, and which will be negotiated between local units and school boards.”

Ontario has a two-tiered system, with big items such as salary and working conditions bargained provincially and more administrative issues dealt with by union locals and individual boards.

Last week, the big five education unions announced they were filing formal notices to kick-start bargaining, starting a 15-day countdown for talks to commence for their 255,000 members, who include teachers, early childhood educators and school support staff. 

David Mastin, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, wrote in a newsletter to members that “this early meeting will set the tone for the work ahead,” and that “showing up, speaking out, organizing, and mobilizing are building the collective power we need to secure real improvements to working and learning conditions.”

This is the first round of bargaining under recent legislative changes made by Education Minister Paul Calandra, removing English public trustees from provincial talks, instead having the Council of Ontario Directors of Education at the table. 

However, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association will be a part of talks for denominational issues. 

The unions have identified smaller class sizes, more special education resources, improving teacher recruitment and retention, addressing violence in schools and pay as key issues. 

Contracts expire at the end of August and it is rare for collective agreements to be reached before the school year starts.

The Catholic union has reminded members “that we are just at the start of what can be a lengthy process, and that we will proceed, one step at a time, together.”

“As discussions get underway, we expect the government to engage in meaningful bargaining and come to the table prepared to reach an agreement that supports teachers, education workers, students and families and strengthens Ontario’s publicly funded education system,” said Martha Hradowy, president of the secondary teachers’ union, in a statement to the Star.

Calandra has previously told reporters he is “quite optimistic”  adding, however, “there will be some tough negotiations.”

His press secretary, Emma Testani, has said “we remain optimistic that all sides can work together in good faith toward fair and responsible agreements that support students, families, educators and taxpayers … maintaining stability in our schools and supporting strong student outcomes.”

Joe Tigani, president of the CUPE’s school support staff union, said their talks begin Wednesday, and “what matters now is whether (the province) comes to the table prepared to address the staffing shortages and underfunding affecting Ontario schools.”

The education unions had requested that talks begin back in March, but the province said the early start was unnecessary.