OSSTF Postponing Strike Votes

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation has announced its postponing strike votes in all bargaining units.
Local high school teachers with the public board were scheduled to hold a strike vote this week.
Union President Ken Coran says they are trying to ratify local agreements and notes some progress has been made.
Coran says there’s no longer a need for a strike vote unless a board seeks conciliation.
Coran is again calling on the Liberal government to quit scaring and misleading students and parents and allow negotiations to continue.
He stresses it will be business as usual when classes return to session tomorrow.
Meantime, MPP’s return to Queen’s Park today.
The governing Liberals called the house back into session to deal with legislation that would impose a contract on teachers.
It would also rein in wages and cut benefits.
The Progressive Conservatives have indicated they’ll support the legislation, which needs votes from one opposition party to pass.
But the Tories say they will seek amendments.
Government house leader John Milloy says he wants the Tories to put pen to paper.
Gilles Bisson of the NDP says the Liberals are trying to distract voters to win two byelections set for September 6th.
The votes in Vaughan and Kitchener-Waterloo will give the Liberals a shot at a majority government, which would end any political wrangling over the bill.