Talks between OSSTF and province resume as Durham high school strike begins

Negotiations between the province and a union representing Ontario secondary school teachers have resumed after talks broke down last week.

The news comes as about 1,550 secondary school teachers and 500 occasional teachers in Durham Region walk off the job, resulting in the cancellation of classes at 22 schools. About 24,000 students will be affected by the strike.

“We have seen enough movement that it warrants getting back to the table, so last night we made an effort to get back to the table and I am hopeful that things are going to progress there,” OSSTF President Paul Elliot told CP24 on Monday morning. “The work stoppage is going to continue today but once we get back to the table and get the school board back to the table hopefully we will get a settlement.”

As part of new legislation the OSSTF has been negotiating with the province at a central bargaining table while talks on more localized issues simultaneously take place between union locals and their school boards at a secondary bargaining table.

Over the weekend talks between OSSTF District 13 and the Durham District School Board broke down and are yet to resume, however Elliot told CP24 that he is hopeful the board will recommit itself to having “meaningful discussions” in light of the resumption of talks between the province and the OSSTF.

For its part the board has said it is willing to resume talks at any point and has blamed the union for walking away from the table.

“The school board has not left the table at this point and we are certainly reaching out to the local union to understand what it will take to be able to continue negations,” Chair Michael Barrett told CP24.

Elliot has previously said that the major issues of contention in Durham and elsewhere in the province concern classroom resource issues such as class sizes and the time allotted for face-to-face interactions with students.

Speaking with CP24 on a picket line outside the Durham District School Board office on Monday OSSTF District 13 President Dave Barrowclough said the resumption of talks at the central table is “good news” but won’t necessarily lead to the resumption of classes any time soon.

“It is good news that they are there at that central table because we will need a deal there to have a final collective agreement but we are still going to need a deal here as well and we need the board to come to the table and actually bargain with us,” he said. “We are ready to bargain whenever they are ready to bargain but you can’t just sit at a table and say that you are there and you are bargaining. You have to actually take part in the process. That’s what we are not seeing from them.”

In a statement released Monday morning, Education Minister Liz Sandals confirmed that the province is back at the table with the OSSTF and chastised union leaders in Durham for not following suit.

“It is disappointing that local talks between OSSTF and Durham District School Board have broken down. Parents and students in Durham face significant disruption as the result of a local teachers’ strike and I encourage the local parties to reach negotiated local agreements,” Sandals said. “I understand the board has indicated it is prepared to meet and I encourage the union to do so as well.”

All secondary school classes cancelled in Durham Region

Last week the OSSTF said it may withdraw services at six school boards including Peel, Halton, Ottawa-Carleton, Waterloo, Rainbow and Lakehead but with negotiations back on at the central table it is unclear whether the union will follow through on that.

Meanwhile, in Durham Region all regular programs for grade 9 to 12 students have been cancelled, school buses for affected schools will not run and all extracurricular activities, field trips and school events are cancelled.

The school board has also announced several other measures while the strike is in effect:

• Community use of schools permits will continue at all DDSB schools and the Education Centre.
• Parents of students with special needs who have community-based case coordination are encouraged to contact their coordinator or agency to inquire about supports similar to March break or summer holidays.
• Parents / guardians using daycare services located in DDSB secondary schools are asked to contact their provider regarding arrangements for dropping off and picking up children in the event of picket lines.
• Students can continue to participate in community volunteer hours provided the activity meets the established criteria and is pre-approved by the school administration.

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