If the Ontario Liberals had hoped that a change in
figurehead would completely ameliorate the tensions and apprehensiveness they
created with the teachers’ unions, those hopes have now been dashed. While the
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) chose to resume
overseeing extracurricular activities on the basis of renewed discussions with
Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals, and among assurances that the government will
protect collective bargaining rights and return to fair negotiations, the
Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has adopted a different
approach. The ETFO has advised its members to continue to boycott
extra-curricular activities.
Is the ETFO being unreasonable in failing to follow
the lead set by the high school teachers? Hardly. The ETFO is merely allowing
history to be its guide. After Bill 115, this Liberal government has a very
poor track record when it comes to respecting the rights of Ontario’s teachers.
The ETFO is simply refusing to make any concessions until it sees concrete
promises from Kathleen Wynne to respect their rights.
Education Minister Liz Sandals is said to be
disappointed with the decision of the ETFO to continue their refusal to
participate in extracurricular activities. If this disappointment was not so
absurd it would be almost touchingly innocent. To expect a union which has only
recently had its constitutional rights trampled by this government to now
wholeheartedly accept that the government intends to negotiate in good faith
represents a view of the situation that is completely divorced from reality. Kathleen
Wynne has said she will not reopen the contracts that were imposed on teachers
through the now repealed Putting Students
First Act, 2012, but she will consider cost-neutral trade-offs such as
professional development days that are currently unpaid. Discussion of these
trade-offs is presently ongoing[1].
Various school Boards have balked at the decision of
the ETFO and are seriously considering taking legal action against the union.
Trillium Lakelands and the Upper Canada district school boards have already
instigated legal action, bringing their case to the Ontario Labour Relations
Board (OLRB) seeking a finding that the actions of the ETFO constitute an “illegal
strike.” A decision from the OLRB is expected in the near future. Depending on
the content of that decision, the other boards may not pursue legal action.
It is entirely reasonable for the ETFO to look to
the pattern of disrespect they have received from this government and opt not
to engage in extra-curricular activities. The ETFO has chosen to wait for
concrete promises from this government. It’s a prudent course of action. If the
government is not pleased with the decision of the elementary teachers of this
province, they have only their own policies and actions to blame. As David
Clegg, president of the local ETFO chapter of the York Region said: “Hollow
platitudes are no substitute for real action.”[2] It should not be necessary for the teachers
to redress the damage that has been done to the public school system in this
past year. The government created this problem. The only way for them to fix it
is through meaningful action, respectful negotiations and firm recognition of
the teachers’ constitutional rights. If the government follows this line,
everyone involved, and indeed the entire province, will be better off.
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