Ontario Education Minister Says Possible Teacher Strike ‘Unnecessary and Unfair’

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce speaks at Queen's Park in Toronto on Aug. 13, 2020. Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce says a teacher’s threatened strike would be unfair to students.

“Ontario students are relying on all of us—teacher unions, school boards & government—to put their interests first and that starts with students staying in class from September to June,” said the minister in a statement on Aug. 14.

Mr. Lecce said the Ontario government has been “bargaining in good faith,” and to date has met over 170 times with all education unions. He said the province wants to secure a deal “that keeps kids in class, provides parents with stability, and treats educators fairly.”

According to Mr. Lecce, private mediation was rejected by teachers’ unions to reach deals.

”Threatening another strike and creating anxiety for parents and students just weeks before the start of the school year is unnecessary and unfair,” he said.

The education minister extended an offer from the government, stating, “We are available to meet every day to negotiate a deal that keeps students in class and improves the outcomes of students.”

He expressed the belief that if all parties stayed at the table and continued negotiations, they would reach a deal to keep “kids learning in the classrooms where they belong.”

Union Calling for Strike Vote

The unions for public elementary and high school teachers in Ontario announced on Aug. 14 that they will be asking their teacher members to vote for walkouts.

Karen Brown, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (EFTO), stated the union has asked for contract terms related to special education, class sizes, violence in schools, and wages that keep pace with inflation.

Ms. Brown accused the Ontario government of refusing to “meaningfully engage” and said the government’s proposals amount to cuts in benefits, salaries, and working conditions.

“We have reached a tipping point,” Ms. Brown said in a speech.

“ETFO’s patience has run out. Our members’ patience has run out. We now need to pressure this government to come to the table and start to bargain with us seriously.”

The union plans to hold meetings throughout the last half of September asking for strike mandates.

“Based on what I have been hearing from members across the province recently, there is no doubt in my mind that the delegates at this annual meeting and that our 83,000 members want to send this government a strong and united message—enough is enough,” stated Ms. Brown.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation also plans to hold strike votes this fall once children are back in school. The union alleges the province of Ontario has “little interest in engaging in substantive negotiations,” according to a memo obtained by The Canadian Press on Aug. 14.

“It is well past time for this government to come to the table willing to conclude a deal to ensure students in Ontario can learn and grow in a world-renowned public education system,” the union memo said.

“A strong strike mandate will demonstrate our unity and determination to achieve fair and favourable terms for our members and students.”

Association des enseignantes et enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), the union that represents French teachers, said the new school year is starting without a work contract. AEFO president Anne Vinet-Roy said it is “unacceptable that the pace of negotiations is so slow.”

The EFTO filed a complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board last week following a government memo that said elementary school teachers needed to undertake mandatory early reading screenings twice a year for students in their second year of kindergarten through to grade two.

The union said the topic is one of the sticking points of ongoing collective bargaining.