Three education unions have now set up strike votes for November. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario announced on September 18 that their 84,000 teacher and education worker members will hold an online strike vote from November 9 to November 18. The Ontario School Board Council of Unions (CUPE-OSBCU) announced that its more than 50,000 members will vote electronically between November 4 and 18. They join the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, who earlier in the week announced that they would be holding strike votes on November 12 and 13.
No contracts
275,000 education workers started the school year without a contract. Contracts expired at the end of August, but negotiations stalled as the Ontario government insisted on bringing many traditionally locally-negotiated items to the provincial bargaining table. The government has made it clear that it wants short-term leaves of absence, professional activity days, preparation time, student supervision, transfer and surplus of educators, and other items to be bargained directly with the provincial government rather than with local school boards.
The education unions wanted the central and local issues to remain the same as the last round. As a result of the impasse, the biggest education unions have all gone to the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) for a mediated ruling on the scope of central items.
In a joint statement, ETFO, OECTA, the L’Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), Ontario School Board Council of Unions (CUPE-OSBCU), and Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) presidents wrote:
“Moving these items to the central table would: strip local autonomy; weaken the ability of our locals to address the specific needs and circumstances of our members, students, and school communities; and further concentrate power at Queen’s Park at a time when publicly funded education is already under immense strain…Minister Calandra has claimed that one of the hallmarks of the Ford government’s time in office is ‘relative peace’ with teachers’ unions and unions representing education workers. He’s wrong, again. The last round of bargaining was drawn out, contentious, and forced CUPE-OSBCU members to defend their rights in a province-wide strike. Hardly the ‘relative peace’ he described.”
In the summer, leaked Conservative government scripts revealed plans to attack education workers over long-term disability leave and sick days, with allusions to requiring a doctor’s note for sick days.
Large classes and inadequate infrastructure
The start of the school year has been marked by classes of over 30 and sometimes 40, schools without adequate furniture for students, parents requesting paper towels and even toilet paper from parents, teachers excessed from some schools while others bursting at the seams with no increase in staff.
To top it off, the government’s $750 Staples gift card has taken $300 directly from shared supplies budgets, forcing planning time teachers to have to negotiate with their homeroom teachers for needed supplies. Many teachers have been documenting the inflated prices on Staples’ online education portal compared to in-store prices. Parents of students with special needs have been denied access to valuable services as specialized learning hubs have been closed and itinerant teachers are laid off. Technology budgets have been halved or more and everyone is pulling at a short blanket.
A big YES vote is needed
In these conditions it is vital that the unions maintain their solidarity pact. OECTA, OSBCU and ETFO are providing a lead by calling for strike votes. Ensuring good turnout and huge YES votes will be crucial to maintaining the pressure on the government, as will marking our calendars and making sure rallies on October 24 are successful, with seas of red and purple and clear demands for the government to fund student success. Buses will be going to Queens Park and other regional hubs to demand that the government fund education the way it claims to.
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