Elementary teachers’ union seeks help over stalled talks

TORONTO — The union representing Ontario public elementary school teachers asked for a conciliation officer Wednesday to help with stalled contract talks with the government.

The president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario said bargaining with Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government has reached a virtual standstill. Sam Hammond said incremental progress was made during discussions over the summer but that has changed in recent weeks.

“ETFO has been clear at the bargaining table about what we want to achieve,” Hammond said in a statement.

“ETFO expects the same clarity from the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), Council of Trustees’ Associations (CTA) and the government, but we’re not getting it on many very important issues at this point.”

Hammond said the government has told the union it’s seeking cuts of up to 2.5 per cent in overall education spending and as part of that it has asked teachers to agree to $150 million in reductions to their collective agreement.

“Government representatives at the bargaining table have been asked, point blank, whether the Ford government intends to make funding cuts to elementary education in 2020,” he said. “All we are getting are evasive non-answers. That is completely unacceptable.”

Education Minister Stephen Lecce’s office did not immediately respond.

Lecce has called on all parties to reach a deal “to provide predictability and confidence” to parents, students, educators.

The union — which represents 83,000 public elementary teachers — has been holding strike vote meetings since September and said the results will be announced in November.