Kathleen Wynne urges teachers’ unions, school boards to resume bargaining

Teacher union leaders emerged from a private meeting with Premier Kathleen Wynne saying little had been accomplished.

Thestar.com
July 24, 2015
by Richard J. Brennan

Leaders of teachers’ unions had a “goodwill” private meeting with Premier Kathleen Wynne on Friday but little was resolved as Ontario inches closer to a widespread labour dispute.

Wynne inserted herself into the stalled negotiations hoping to get the various unions talking again and prevent the province’s 2 million students from enduring work-to-rule campaigns or possibly strikes.

“I give the premier credit for getting all the parties together, and the meeting maybe helped focus people on a timeline, but we would need strong indication (from school boards) that they will move off their position about removing class caps” before returning to the bargaining table, said Paul Elliott, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF).

He said the meeting, which lasted about an hour, was “low-key; no specific issues were discussed.” Still, he noted “OSSTF remains open to returning to the table. We are working through our conciliator and may know next week it it’s worthwhile to return to the table.”

The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) wants to change the local caps on high school class size to more flexible “guidelines,” a move the union opposes because, unlike hard caps, guidelines “have no meaning when it comes to a contract,” said Elliott.

The OSSTF announced last week its members will not run after-school programs this fall without a contract.

After the meeting, Wynne issued a statement saying all involved have a responsibility to get back to the bargaining table.

“We owe that to Ontario’s students and parents. That’s why I called for the meeting this morning,” she said, adding that “not getting back to bargaining is an abdication of our responsibility.

“I was pleased that this morning that no one said a deal was impossible and there was a willingness to set dates to get back to the table.”

The large group that met with Wynne also included OPSBA, which noted early Friday afternoon that while they appreciated the opportunity to have a “dialogue with the premier, it is our view that, at this time, matters being negotiated at each of the bargaining tables should not be vetted in the media.

“Rather, it is our position that negotiations between the teacher unions and employer groups must resume so that we can focus on achieving acceptable agreements prior to the start of the school year.”

OPSBA said school boards continue to be willing to meet and invited teachers to return to the table. “We are confident that we can arrive at an agreement with our education partners that remains focused on the best interests of students and families.”

Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) said the early Friday meeting in Wynne’s office “was an interesting conversation,” but he insisted his union’s work-to-rule campaign is still very much in the future unless a deal can be reached in six weeks.

Hammond said a deal can be reached but “we need everyone at the table to be serious.”

Ann Hawkins, president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) said it is up to Wynne now to find date when the unions can get down to bargaining. OECTA has unveiled a sweeping work-to-rule campaign.

The union leaders had flown in from Ottawa, where they were attending the Education International’s 7th World Congress, to meet with Wynne, “because we take this seriously,” Hammond said.

“We need to get past the rhetoric and we need to have confirmed dates ... and as I have said on behalf of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario we have some issues we need taken off the table,” he said.

While the government has warned there is no new funding available for education, Wynne and Education Minister Liz Sandals have said compromise is possible if the teachers return to the table.

Sandals said Friday there seemed to be a consensus “that we need to be getting back to the bargaining table ... and I think there is really good will to do that.”

Progressive Conservative MPP Garfield Dunlop called for Sandals’ resignation.

“Minister Sandals has had over a year to get a deal done ... Minister Sandals is failing and should resign immediately,” he said in a statement.

“It is disappointing that this government continues to leave parents worried and uncertain on whether teachers will be back in the classroom in the fall ... the clock is ticking and parents are getting more anxious as each day goes by,” Dunlop stated.