THUNDER BAY – Talks have broken down between the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Assocation and the province.
OECTA president Liz Stuart on Monday said it means the union's job action will continue and further strike action is an option.
The union cancelled planned rotating strikes this week after a mediator called both sides back to the table, but Stuart said it's clear the province doesn't want a deal anytime soon and is more focused on tossing insults at teachers and education workers who are exercising their democratic right to strike.
“After the minister of education spent the weekend making baseless, inflammatory accusations about Catholic teachers and our association, his bargaining team held firm to their agenda to take resources out of the classroom. At times, it seems they have no real intention of negotiating an agreement,” Stuart said in a releaase.
Stuart went on to say the teachers' association remains committed to reach a fair deal and will await to hear if the mediator believes further negotiations will be worthwhile.
“However, we will not tolerate the government’s disrespect for our members, or their insistence on making permanent cuts to publicly funded education. While our administrative job action continues, OECTA will also be considering options for further strike action,” Stuart said.
OECTA is one of four teacher and education worker unions in a labour battle with the province.
Earlier on Monday the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario announced it would escalate strike action into what it's deeming Phase 6 of its strike protocol if a deal isn't reached.
That would mean union members would continue to not fill in for any absences that would normally be filled by occasional teachers or education workers, upload data related to assessments or use personal funds to pay for classroom supplies.
“ETFO is asking the government to get back to the bargaining table and negotiate an agreement by Friday, March 6,” said union president Sam Hammond.
“The Ford government has an opportunity to ensure stability in elementary schools. If the government ignores this opportunity and chooses labour disruption instead, ETFO will move to its Phase 7 Strike Protocol on Monday, March 9, 2020.”
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says he remains committed to reach a deal that keeps students in class and certainty to parents.
"The safety and security of our students are of the utmost importance to this government. I hope that ETFO will work with school boards to ensure that the escalated work-to-rule measures do not risk student safety and security,” Lecce said in a statement “That is why our government is squarely focused on getting a deal that ends the continuous escalation by teachers' union leaders, so our kids remain in class.
“Our government wants to see investments in education helping our students, not increasing compensation and enhancing already generous benefits packages.”
All four major teachers' unions walked off the job this past Friday.
