NDP delays back-to-work legislation tabled to end teachers’ strikes

Hopes that students would be back in class as soon as Tuesday were dashed after the NDP said it would not unanimously support back-to-work legislation tabled by Ontario education minister Liz Sandals on Monday.

“(We) will not be supporting the unanimous consent motion,” said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.

“We will also not get in the way of the government using its majority to be able to put that legislation forward and go through the normal course of action … meaning it could be passed by Thursday.”

Earlier, the education minister said she was hoping for a fast resolution to the ongoing strikes and had sent out letters to party letters.

“It could take up to a week, and obviously that not what we want to see happen for our kids,” Sandals said.

“We are asking the other two parties for unanimous consent.”

Sandals said the decision to table the legislation wasn’t made lightly and came after a branch of the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) ruled that strikes by high school teachers in Rainbow District, Peel Region and Durham Region are putting the students’ school years in jeopardy.

Education Relations Commission’s Advisement Report

“We respect our teachers and their right to strike but this is about our government prioritizing the needs of students…” Sandals said at a news conference Monday.

“The needs of the secondary students are paramount. We want them to return where they rightfully belong…”

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) said it is “extremely disappointed” the province has decided to legislate an end to the teacher strikes.

“Nothing positive can ever come out of a legislated curtailment of a union’s fundamental right to bargain freely and to withdraw services when necessary,” OSSTF president Paul Elliott said in a statement.

“This government created the current bargaining process, and we have made every effort to make it work. It’s disappointing that the premier and the education minister are so eager to subvert that process with legislation rather than roll up their sleeves and take an active role in helping to make the process work.”

Elliott said they will continue to work for negotiated local agreements with all of the other school boards around the province.

More than 70,000 students have been out of class between three and five weeks due to the strikes.

Starting next week, the public elementary teachers’ union — Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) — will be stepping up its work-to-rule campaign, according to a report in the Toronto Star.

As of Monday, ETFO said it won’t participate in planning field trips for next year, take part in meetings about students’ transition from Grade 1, or any professional development programs throughout the summer.

Teachers started their work to rule campaign earlier this month, which resulted in the cancellation of EQAQ tests.

Negotiations have stalled with no new talks planned.

With files from The Canadian Press

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