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Ontario: Ontario’s education minister says the province has been “working hard” to try to reach a deal with the unions representing Ontario teachers in an effort to avert strike action when the school year starts next month.
Public school teachers in the province have been without a contract since last summer and contract negotiations resumed today with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association.
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation has also agreed to come back to the table for bargaining sessions on Aug. 18 and Aug. 19.
“Everybody is very focused on making sure we do get agreements so there won’t be disruptions in the fall,” Sandals told reporters at Queen’s Park Wednesday.
“I have a sense of a good feeling coming back to the table.”
Although dates have not yet been set to resume negotiations with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, Sandals said informal conversations have be going on in the background.
“I don’t want you to think that there is silence there,” she said.
When asked if a deal can realistically be reached before the start of the school year, Sandals said some bargaining has already taken place behind the scenes.
“In many cases, there is a lot issues have already been resolved… It isn’t like we now have a few days and we have to do everything,” she added.
“Getting the final agreement is always hard work but there is a lot of hard work that has already been done.”
