July 24, 2015 by admin

Wynne meeting with teachers’ unions, school boards to restart contract talks

TORONTO — Education Minister Liz Sandals says talks with Ontario’s teachers’ unions will resume following a meeting today between Premier Kathleen Wynne, union leaders and public school board representatives.
Sandals calls it a very positive meeting and says the unions “are committed” to getting back to the table in August and reaching new contracts before classes begin Sept. 8.
Wynne asked for the meeting to try to jump-start the stalled negotiations, and issued a statement afterwards saying not getting back to bargaining “is an abdication of our responsibility.”
The union leaders say it was an interesting conversation but they still have some major issues around working conditions and class sizes to deal with.
Paul Elliott, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, says he “didn’t hear anything that’s changed anyone’s opinion or position,” but agrees it was a positive step to hear from the premier.
Contracts for all 115,000 Ontario teachers expired last August, and the unions have warned of increased work-to-rule job actions if there are no agreements by September.
Michael Barrett, president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, which negotiates with the teachers’ unions on behalf of the government, refused to speak with reporters as he left the meeting.