Ontario education unions promise ‘proportional response,’ schedule 3rd strike vote
On Sunday, the Ontario School Board Council of Unions, a part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, announced it would hold a strike vote in November.
Three Ontario education unions have announced they will hold strike votes for their members, as negotiations over contract terms with the Ford government reach a critical juncture. The Ontario School Board Council of Unions, representing 57,000 members, joins the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) in scheduling strike votes amid stalled contract talks.
David Mastion, president of ETFO, warned that education unions are prepared for a "proportional response" to the government's actions, emphasizing that they will only take measures necessary to compel the government to change its course. He stated that the trajectory of contract negotiations since 2018 has been one of dismantling, cutting, and suffocating public education.
A spokesperson for Education Minister Paul Calandra explained that ongoing disputes at the Labour Relations Board (OLRB) are delaying contract negotiations. The OLRB is determining which issues should be negotiated at central or local levels. Calandra's office cautioned that premature strike threats do not serve students' interests and vowed to remain focused on reaching a deal that keeps students in the classroom.
Despite the union's president's plea not to see teachers or education workers strike, he stressed the seriousness of the threat, indicating that a significant strike mandate would send a strong message to the government of the educators' resolve.
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