Talks falter in teachers dispute

Contract talks have collapsed with Ontario’s public elementary school teachers, their union said Friday, an announcement sure to upset parents who don’t want their children caught in labour strife.

“We’re shocked at this development,” Sam Hammond, the president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), wrote in an update to members.

Hammond accused the Liberal government and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association of walking away from talks and refusing to continue bargaining — and hinted at even tougher action in schools where labour unrest has already cost 800,000 public elementary schoolchildren field trips and parents chances to meet with teachers.

“ETFO will be consulting with our local presidents on Monday to discuss next steps, given that the government and (school boards) have walked away from central bargaining,” Hammond wrote.

“Although progress during our discussions was proceeding at a very slow pace, ETFO was prepared to put in the time necessary to reach a fair central agreement. It appears the other parties were not prepared to do the same,” he wrote.

Ontario Education Minister Liz Sandals said the government and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association have tabled a “comprehensive” proposal to the ETFO that she said is in line with the tentative agreements reached with other teacher unions in the province.

She said she is hopeful a settlement can be reached.

The union asked for other dates to continue discussions, but the government and school boards association refused to provide dates, Hammond said.

The union announced the breakdown Friday evening to its 74,000 members, who have been under strict orders since last spring to withhold services they would normally provide, a work-to-rule campaign whose casualties have included standardized tests and report card comments.

The union represents about 78,000 elementary public school teachers across the province.