Catholic teacher talks heat up
As the threat of a March 20 lockout looms, tensions appear to be increasing in contract negotiations between the Niagara Catholic District School Board and the union representing about 800 elementary school teachers.
Thursday, in the wake of a marathon bargaining session earlier this week, the school board issues a statement alleging the actions of the Ontario Catholic Teachers’ Association Niagara Elementary Unit were unfair to its 14,700 students, while the union issued a media release saying the board continues to be disrespectful of its members.
The union’s Niagara Elementary Unit president Marie Balanowski said in an e-mail that the collective bargaining committee met with board representatives “for over 29 hours straight,” over Monday and Tuesday.
“Over 27 of those 29 hours were spent on round the clock bargaining with the assistance of the mediator,” she said.
NCDSB chair Rev. Paul MacNeil said he was present for most of that meeting, too.
“It was a long haul,” he said. “That gives you an indication of how hard we’re working on it. I was exhausted. I’ve never done that before. It was really something.”
MacNeil suspects the pending lockout deadline may be contributing to escalating tensions.
“When you think about the looming deadline, I think the problem is leading up to our decision to lock the teachers out, or to issue an intent to do that, we couldn’t see the prospect of a settlement,” he said. “We’re kind of hoping that this whole thing is going to move us in the direction of a settlement. I suppose, yes, things may be heating up a little bit, but we’re still at the bargaining table. We’re very committed to bargaining, right up until the end, right up until the last minute if we have to.”
The board’s notice to parents, posted on its website, niagaracatholic.ca, says the union directed elementary school teachers to tell parents that “the association continues to work towards reaching a fair collective agreement.”
The board’s notice then asks: “Fair to whom?”
“Certainly not for students who have been deprived for over six months of the full Catholic education experience they expect and deserve.”
In response, the union issued a media release describing the board’s notice as “misleading accusations and analysis,” and “yet another example of the disrespect shown to Niagara’s Catholic elementary teachers throughout the bargaining process.”
The board’s notice also refers to one of the issues that has yet to be resolved through negotiations, regarding the way the board fills vacancies.
“We believe we should be able to consider all of the applicants’ teaching experience, desired qualifications and experiences that are reasonably related to the position. OECTA says no,” the board’s notice states.
“The NCDSB also proposes that when we fill vacancies that we have regard to the needs of not just one school but of the whole system. We do not want some of our schools to have mostly very experienced teachers while others have mostly less experienced teachers. We committed that in filling positions in this way we would not act arbitrarily or in bad faith, that OECTA has the right to arbitrate if we depart from this standard. OECTA says no.”
Another issue noted in the board’s statement is in regard to reporting student progress to parents.
The board’s notice says the union proposals “would change how the NCDSB has been operating to achieve student success for years.”
The union, in its media release, confirmed “that teachers are standing firm on some important matters.”
“With regard to the process for filling vacant teaching positions, for example, we are seeking the same fair, transparent process that exists in many school boards across Ontario. We think most people will agree that this is not too much to ask,” the union says.
Although MacNeil said the board chose to shed some light on some of the issues being dealt with during negotiations, “I want to keep the focus on what’s impacting our kids.”
“That’s what the most important thing is,” he said. “We’re really trying to reach a negotiated agreement and settlement that will really help the kids thrive.”
He said the ongoing work-to-rule sanctions are the biggest concern.
Through the sanctions, teachers were directed not to record comments on student report cards, or participate in extracurricular activities as well as Math Circle, Education Quality and Accountability Office activities, concerts or plays, Speak Out, science or heritage fairs, liturgical music workshops, spirit assemblies or events with performers or guest speakers, and a list of numerous other activities.
“We gave OECTA notice of a lockout because there was no realistic prospect of a settlement at the bargaining table in view, and that means that we can expect more months where children will continue to be deprived of very important activities which are central to their leaning experience.”
The union’s media release says its members “simply cannot volunteer further time to support an employer who does not value our professionalism and dedication.”
“We remain committed to continuing with our core duties of planning lessons, delivering curriculum, and assessing student progress. Removing teachers from the classroom would not be our choice. It would not provide enhanced safety for students – in fact, exactly the opposite – and it is not necessary, given our willingness to continue negotiating. Our decision to undertake workto-rule job action was a measured response to the school board’s reluctance to negotiate a fair agreement. It should go without saying that the school board’s lockout will have negative consequences for students and parents.”
Despite the growing tensions, both sides say they’re committed to reaching an agreement when negotiations resume March 15.
But, “if that is not possible,” the board says it will provide parents with detailed instructions for dayto-day matters at the schools after March 19.
It was a long haul. That gives you an indication of how hard we’re working on it. I was exhausted. I’ve never done that before. It was really something.” NCDSB chair Rev. Paul MacNeil