THUNDER BAY – Mike Judge says it’s unfortunate elementary school teachers have been backed into a corner and feel they no other bargaining recourse but to withdraw participation in extra-curricular activities.
There’s no other choice, said Judge, president of the Lakehead Elementary Teacher of Ontario, reacting to the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario’s decision to move next Wednesday into the third phase of strike action with no negotiations with the province on the horizon.
“Essentially it includes everything above the specific requirements of the job. What’s most near and dear to most people’s hearts, unfortunately, is we’re talking about sports and clubs and those activities that are a lot of fun for students and teachers to participate in,” Judge said on Thursday, an hour after the ETFO made the announcement to ramp up job actions across the province.
It’s frustrating to have to take this route, but the union has been painted into a corner and sees the escalation as the only way to force the province back to the negotiating table.
“We’ve been asking for – and now it’s been 14 months – to be bargaining. And most recently, as of Oct. 9, when progress was being made on Thanksgiving weekend and we wanted to continue with those talks, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and the Crown just up and walked away and have refused to take our phone calls since.”
The union wants to get a deal done, but without a willing partner, finding common ground isn’t possible.
“They’re basically forcing us to do something to make them take notice,” Judge said. “And believe me, this is the last tack. We really tried hard not to have this be a tactic in our negotiations and unfortunately this is where we are.”
He advised upset parents and students to get in touch with their local MPPs to convey their anger and convince them to tell the powers that be at Queen’s Park it’s time to settle the ongoing contract dispute.
“Force them to be accountable for why this decision is being made. It’s clearly a tactic the government is employing. Why are you trying to do this on the backs of students and family,” said Judge, who this fall has taken a leave of absence from his duties as coach of the Hammarskjold High School senior boys football team.
ETFO president Sue Hammond in a release issued Thursday said it’s not a decision the union and its members take lightly.
“The Liberal government and OPSBA have ignored all attempts by ETFO to get them to return to the central bargaining table, including an offer to refer one issue to binding arbitration. If OPSBA and the government want a deal, why are they not responding to our efforts to resume bargaining? Why are they not back at the bargaining table with us?” said ETFO President Sam Hammond in the release.
“Our members do not undertake this escalation of strike action lightly, but they understand that reaching a fair and reasonable agreement will not happen unless OPSBA and the government are present at the bargaining table.”
The union has been without a contract since August 2014.
At the local level the decision will impact the volleyball season immediately, followed by basketball.
