OSSTF speaks out about concerns regarding Bill 124; 1% is not enough!

BY PAUL JUNOR

As the contracts between Ontario education unions expire on Wednesday, August 31^st, 2022 and bargaining is in process to negotiate new ones, there are many uncertainties. The 55,000 strong Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) released a media statement that indicates that its position will emphasize cooperation rather than confrontation.

Karen Littlewood, President of the OSSTF explained the position of the union. Bill Kelly mentioned that the CUPE sent a memo to its members in which it indicated that at its meeting on Monday, August 22^nd, 2022 one of the items on the agenda would be organizing strike votes. Minister of Education, Stephen Leece responds, ”My message to leadership is that they would rescind this action today. They must take a step back and reflect on the consequences that this may have and work with us as I believe that I have been doing with that union for many specifically.”

Bill asked President Littlewood her response to the Minister’s comments, and she believes that he is going to these negotiations with an open mind. She outlines that it was the previous government that decided that all the education teacher’s unions would expire at the same time. She mentioned that Minister Leece’s statement was quite harsh and that they are currently at the bargaining table for their members and they are determined to head back to the classrooms.

She refers to Minister Leece’s tweets that the government will do everything to ensure that students return to normal and stable classrooms. She agrees with the Minister by emphasizing that they are ready to cooperate, although it may mean different things to the two camps. She believes that schools should be fully funded public education with the highest quality workers in the system.

She is concerned about the impact of Bill 124, which restricted wage increases to 1%, which has significantly impacted the largely female members of the teaching profession. With respect to changes that were introduced due to the pandemic by the government, she believes that the government has short-changed the students. She is concerned about the trends toward privatization by the government opening choices in the system, the fact that there is a shortage of qualified teachers and the possibility that unqualified teachers may have to be hired. She expects the government to bargain in good faith and not through the media.

President Littlewood is preparing to “fight tooth and nail” in this round of bargaining, She states “I know the absolute last thing that anyone wants to hear right now is about how our fight continues, about all the efforts that are still needed.” She notes that all OSSTF members “Deserve good jobs with fair wages and decent benefits.” She is fighting for

“smaller class sizes and less online learning, for improved health and safety standards, and proper equitable access to support and services from the whole education team.”