Mike Judge said elementary teachers aren’t out to break the bank.
In fact, money is the least of their concerns as negotiations with the province and the Ontario Public School Board Association continue to drag on.
“There are some half truths being told out there in the public and the government would have you believe that we’re looking for more or holding out or we’re being difficult, when in fact, and I really want to make it clear, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario has not been offered a contract and haven’t walked away from anything,” said Judge, president of the Lakehead Elementary Teachers of Ontario.
Teachers really just want the talks to continue, Judge said on Monday afternoon, as 200 or so local educators marched in front of government offices on James Street.
“We want to resume bargaining and get this behind us and move forward with what we do best,” Judge said.
To date there have only been 11 negotiation session with the province and OPSBA, just seven face-to-face.
That pales in comparison with the 29 the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation had over the summer when negotiating its deal with the province.
“We’re not quite sure they would think they could get through our deal so much more quickly and why they’ve walked away.”
The possibility looms for rotating classroom walkouts in October, he added, noting it wasn’t until high school teachers threatened to strike that a contract was signed.
“We’re trying really hard not to play that card,” Judge said. “We’re trying to be good employees and good people, but our hands are being forced. Our hands are tied here.”
On a positive note, talks at the local level, with Lakehead Public Schools, remain on track. But, without a concurrent deal being signed at the provincial level, the impasse can’t end.
ETFO employees have been without a contract for the past 13 months.
Teachers have already started work-to-rule across Ontario, refusing to take over classrooms when the regular teacher is not available.
Judge said the rally was also held in part to convince local MPPs Michael Gravelle and Bill Mauro to take up their cause at Queen's Park.
