Showdown between teachers’ unions and government makes strike seem inevitable

BY PAUL JUNOR

On Monday, November 18^th, 2019 the Ontario Secondary Teachers Federation (OSSTF) released their strike vote results, which showed that Ontario teachers and occasional teachers voted 95.5% in favour of strike action, while education workers voted 92% in favour. This is a significant mandate from high school teachers to put more pressure on the provincial government. Harvey Berschof (President of OSSTF) declared, “This is a powerful mandate from our members and it sends a compelling message. Our members are committed to defending the quality of education in Ontario against a government that is determined to undermine it,” (City News).

This strike vote comes in the wake of others by the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, which represents 83,000 members, which voted 98% to strike. They will be in a legal strike position as early as Monday, November 25^th. ETFO president Sam Hammond stated on Twitter “ETFO is fighting for investment, not cuts in education. While ETFO is now in a legal position to take strike action in 17 days, we will continue to focus on contract talks in an attempt to arrive at a deal that improves student learning conditions and educator working conditions.” Ontario Catholic Teachers’ unions voted 97.1% in support of a strike vote. They have not indicated when they will have a legal strike date. The provinces French school boards have yet to make a statement.

After OECTA filed a request with the Minister of Labour to have a conciliator appointed as the government dismissed its own bargaining team. This is one step in the direction toward a legal strike position. According to President Liz Stuart, “Catholic school board trustees have come to the table prepared to work constructively, but the government side is in complete chaos. Since this round of bargaining began, the government has been going out of it is way to derail the process. They have made comments through the media that have had a detrimental effect on: negotiations, introduced regulations and legislation that violate our collective bargaining rights. They have played games with the public to muddle the issues and deflect blame.”

The unions have been very upset with Bill 124, a bone of contention which was introduced by the Ontario government. The bill caps public sector worker compensation increases to 1% for three years. This wage freeze in addition to: the loss of thousands of teaching jobs, cutbacks in services, cancellation of courses and mandatory online courses are other sensitive issues.

As reported in the Friday, November 15^th edition of the Toronto Star, Minister Leece in a statement declared, “There are only a limited number of outstanding items at the table and the government and school trustee association have continued to table reasonable and expanded offers through the negotiation process, with only one interest in mind; landing a deal that keeps our kids in class.” This statement has not appeased the unions and they have decided to exert additional pressure.

ETFO has decided to engage in a partial withdrawal of services in a work-to-rule campaign that will involve: teachers not attending staff and school meetings, participating in ministry-related activities and filing progress reports. The Canadian Council of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), which represents 55 unions declared their support for Ontario’s education unions. “By under minding public-funded education and attacking our schools, the Ford government is jeopardizing the future of our children and Ontario’s economy.” What is unfortunate is that students are pawns between government and unions.