Ontario secondary teachers union rules out strike action to start school year

Contracts with unions representing Ontario education workers are set to expire in less than two weeks, but secondary school teachers are ruling out strike action — at least at the beginning of the school year.

“Absolutely, [Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation] members will be in the school this fall, and we will continue to bargain for the best interest of our members,” said Karen Littlewood, President of the OSSTF.

“I want to be so clear about that. Our OSSTF members will be in the school. We are welcoming students back. So excited to see them in-person face-to-face if that would be possible.”

The current deals will expire on Aug. 31, days before students return to the classroom on Sept. 7.

Union officials have stated they are going after more significant raises to keep up with the rising cost of inflation.

“Gas prices, interest rates, all of that. How are workers supposed to continue?” Littlewood asked while speaking to media following a keynote speech at OSSTF/FEESO Presidents’ Symposium in Toronto.

Premier Doug Ford said teachers could expect raises above the one percent cap his government imposed when he first came into power. Brown noted that talks are still in the early bargaining stages, and no formal offer has been received.

“We are being respectful. We’re at the table,” said Brown.

“The actual at the table is respectful, but what’s happening in the media are continued attacks and indications of what’s going to happen in education as they move to try to protect the system or destroy it.”

CUPE hints at strike action

While secondary school teachers are committed to being on the job when the school year begins, the possibility of future labour action or a work stoppage by high school staff isn’t off the table.

“When you’re being attacked with cuts to education, with failure to meet the cost of living increases, we’re hoping we’re not going to have legislated wage restrictions, but we’re going to have to do what we can to protect education,” said Brown.

The comments come just days after the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) — which represents 55,000 education support workers — floated the idea of a potential strike vote.

That move prompted a harsh response from Education Minister Stephen Lecce, who urged CUPE leaders to put their energy into negotiations at the bargaining table.

“I hope today the union will walk back this needless escalation and just work with us in good faith to get a deal for these kids so they can stay in school,” said Lecce.

The government’s first offer to CUPE includes a raise of two per cent a year over four years for many workers, which falls far short of the 11.7 per cent the union sought.

Separate negotiations are also ongoing with unions representing teachers in elementary, french and Catholic schools.