THUNDER BAY -- The province and the elementary teachers’ union have reached an impasse, which could result in strike action as early as Dec. 5.
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario announced this week that if there is a strike that parents will be given 72 hours’ notice. The tensions between the union and the province stem from the controversial Bill 115 that passed in September, which union members say has removed their right to collective bargaining.
Teachers and support staff have until Dec. 31 to come to an agreement otherwise Ontario's Minister of Education, Laurel Broten, will move to implement a contract without input or consent from the unions.
Ellen Chambers, Local president for ETFO, said they were willing to go to the table at any time to discuss the matter and even had the union’s president meet with the ministry in November. She accuses Broten of shutting those talks down.
Chambers said they have little time left to make sure the minister listens to their concerns but at the same time they won’t sit back and do nothing.
“I would say Broten is the most frustrating thing about this,” Chambers said.
“I know how things are being played out in the news but last February all education unions were called to negotiate but there was absolutely no negotiation. What was handed was a piece of paper with what we’re going to take and there will be no discussion. I’m sure parents will be listening very carefully and will be concerned.”
She said the Bill gave the Minister of Education extraordinary powers to force teachers back to work and used to be handled by the legislature.
She said that decision is unprecedented in Canadian labour relations.
“If she forces us back to work it says she has a really big stick and is going to wield it,” she said. “It says she’s not willing to negotiate.”
Lakehead Public Schools Director of education Cathi Siemieniuk said they don’t any more information about the situation other than what was previously reported in the media.
“The unions certainly have the right to impose a strike when they come into legal strike position,” she said. “For elementary teachers that’s the week of Dec. 10. We anticipate that we’ll be able to give parents notice.”
Broten also spoke about the issue at a media conference in Toronto on Thursday. The Toronto Star reported that if the unions go on strike Broten would order them back to work.
