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Labour Dispute

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Strike Deadline Set For Catholic Teachers

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The clock is now ticking on a December 21st strike deadline for catholic teachers in the province.

Aldo Grillo is a regional representative with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association and he’s not confident a new contract with the Ford government can be reached by then.

“Simply because they passed legislation. They put wage caps in place and they’ve legislated that just prior to bargaining which basically handcuffs the whole bargaining process.”

Grillo says he the association is trying to remain optimistic but notes there seems to be a great divide between the two sides.

He states “Some of the main points and the way bargaining has been handled by this government to date is at the core of the issue right now.”

No decision has been made locally on potential job action if a contract can’t be secured in the next two weeks.

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OSSTF Continues Push For New Contract

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Teachers, support staff and education assistants across the Kenora district are back on the job today (Thursday) following a one day strike by members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation.

Local representative Cindy Hayward says the job action is a matter of protecting the province’s education system from government cuts.

Hayward says teachers are concerned with increased class sizes and the government removing programs from students.

She notes “we have a world class education system and our educators want to keep it that way.”

Another local OSSTF official claims the Ford government is lying about the dispute.

Rich Seeley points out claims by the education minister that the government has made moves during negotiations are not true.

Seeley notes “We are trying to defend the system. What we’re looking for is a status quo contract with a cost of living increase. That is not unreasonable and I think most Ontarians are on our side.”

Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the union is asking for $1.5 billion in pay and benefit increases.

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Plenty Of Reaction To One Day Strike

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The one day strike by public school teachers is in full swing.

Teachers have been picketing at schools across the Kenora district for much of the day as well as front of the Kenora constituency office of Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford.

Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation President Harvey Bischof says they’ve seen nothing concrete at the bargaining table the past four days that addresses their concerns.

“Not a single proposal to protect class sizes. Not a single proposal to ensure students have access to the support staff that some of them require to be successful.”

He notes “A single day strike doesn’t come close to the kind of disruption that this government will reek on the education system if they are allowed to go forward with their destructive proposals.”

Bischof says the contract dispute has nothing to do with wages as suggested by the Education Minister.

He says their salary request will only cost the system $200,000, not the $1.5 billion suggested by Stephen Lecce.

However, Lecce says that’s not the case.

“”To assert it isn’t about compensation is preposterous, it is.”

Lecce says they are doing everything in their power to keep kids in school.

Speaking at Queen’s Park, Lecce stated “The objective of the government is to ensure children, the continuity of learning for children remains unimpeded. And what is regrettable is that, in respective of the party (NDP) or the premier, the one constant in my lifetime is that unions escalate against the government. That’s an unacceptable reality.”

Lecce says his government stands behind parents against escalation and they will work long and hard the next couple of days to ensure student learning isn’t impacted.

He stresses all MPP’s should be opposed to escalation that hurt our kids.

Lecce continues to push for an independent third-party mediator to be involved in bargaining.

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High School Teachers Plan One Day Strike

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The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation has announced a one day strike.

It will take place on Wednesday, December 4th, with high school teachers and education assistants walking off the job.

Area high schools may be closed as a result.

Union President Harvey Biscoff says a lack of progress at the bargaining table is forcing the move.

“What the Crown brought to the table was absolutely nothing. Not one single proposal to place on the table even after we had begun a very mild withdrawal of services and political action.”

Biscoff says “The public, parents don’t want increased class sizes. They don’t want their students, their children to lose access to support staff. They don’t want mandatory E-learning.”

Education Minister Stephen Lecce is expressing disappointment over the job action.

“For teacher unions to leave the table, to turn their backs on our children, and to escalate to the point of compromising their education, is troubling for parents and for our government.”

Lecce is pushing for mediated talks.

“All parties that are truly committed to the success of our kids will consider every tool available to avoid strikes.”

Lecce says the government has been reasonable by making major moves at the bargaining table but notes the response hasn’t been matched by union officials.

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Education Dispute Hot Topic In Toronto

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Ontario’s Education Minister Stephen Lecce calls the job action by public elementary and high school teachers regrettable.

This is Day #2 of the work to rule campaign, which union officials say won’t impact students in the classroom.

Lecce continues to push for mediation in reaching a new deal with instructors.

He says parents will face more uncertainty because unions have decided to escalate at a time when the province is trying to keep the unions at the table and keep kids in the classroom.

“We should be able to get a good deal for all parties to keep teachers in class but most importantly to provide predictability for the parents of this province so that every child in Ontario is able to get education every single day this year.”

NDP critic Marit Stiles says the government and its funding cuts are to blame.

“The Minister says he wants predictability? But the only thing predictable is this governments cuts are going to get deeper, and more teachers will be fired, and kids are going to suffer.”

(Picture: Stephen Lecce)

 

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Teachers Job Action Enters Day #2

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With a work to rule campaign by both public elementary and secondary school teachers now entering its second day, many parents are still wondering what that means for their child.

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board says elementary teachers are withdrawing from certain administrative work, which includes school board meetings, staff meetings and responding to emails from school administration outside of regular school hours.

For those in high school, it will look the same but with the addition of information pickets to inform the public on why they’re taking job action.

A board spokesperson says that the current action should not have any impact on students, and they will do their best to keep parents informed with the latest information once it becomes available.

(Picture Credit: Ted Mitchell)

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Union Reaches Tentative Deal With CN Rail

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A week-long strike by thousands of CN Rail workers across Canada is about to come to an end.

Teamsters Canada said Tuesday it had reached a tentative agreement with CN Rail to renew the collective agreement.

Normal operations will resume Wednesday at 6 a.m. local time across the country, the union said.

“I am pleased to announce that we’ve reached a tentative agreement with CN,” said François Laporte, president of Teamsters Canada, in a news release.

More than 3,000 conductors, trainpersons and yard workers walked off the job last Tuesday with concerns about fatigue and worker safety.

Union officials said details of the tentative agreement will not be released until members have had the chance to review it.

The union thanked the federal government and mediators for their work, adding they were “instrumental” in helping the two sides find common ground.

“Previous governments routinely violated workers’ right to strike when it came to the rail industry,” said Laporte. “This government remained calm and focused on helping parties reach an agreement, and it worked.”

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Teachers Job Action Underway

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A work-to-rule campaign is underway in public elementary and high schools across the district.

Teachers are withdrawing from certain administrative duties to back demands in their contract talks with the province and school boards.

In a video message, President of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario Sam Hammond says they’re looking for a fair and reasonable agreement.

Hammond stresses they remain focused on reaching a deal at the bargaining table, however warns that if they don’t see the investments and supports that they need, they will do whatever it takes to get the support they need.

Teachers unions note their job action won’t impact student learning.

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New Contract Far Away For Canada Post Workers

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Canada Post workers won’t have a new contract this year.

Talks with an arbitrator were supposed to wrap up by the end of the year but the Canadian Union of Postal Workers reports the arbitrator is asking for an extension until next June.

The union states the arbitrator had no choice because Canada Post has not finished submitting evidence that they intend to reply to.

Arbitration began last November after postal workers staged a series of rotating strikes that were ended by back-to-work legislation.

 

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CN Rail Strike

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The trains at CN Rail have stopped moving due to a strike.

The federal government points out after months of negotiations CN Rail and the teamsters union have failed to reach a collective bargaining agreement.

Labour Minister Patty Hajdu has released a statement saying “The Government of Canada understands the importance of the rail industry and its workers to the Canadian economy. While we are concerned about the impact of a work stoppage on Canadians, we remain hopeful they’ll reach an agreement.”

She adds the government has faith in the collective bargaining process, with the federal mediator working closely with both sides since June to find a resolution.

The Mining Association of Canada is expressing serious concern, with its President saying “The shipment of fuel and other supplies to mine sites will be compromised as will the transport of mineral products.”