The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has accepted an invitation by the education minister to resume negotiations.
“We learned at 5pm [Sept. 29] that Minister (Liz) Sandals has called upon ETFO to return to the bargaining table,” said ETFO president Sam Hammond in a press release.
“ETFO has been ready to return to the table for two weeks to bargain a fair and reasonable collective agreement specific to ETFO members.”
Bargaining between the government and ETFO occurred on Oct. 5 and 6. It was the first time negotiations were held since the government walked away from the table in September.
The federation filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board four hours before the minister’s statement was issued. ETFO officials said the complaint to the alleged refusal of the government and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) to bargain in good faith.
After seven days of bargaining with ETFO, the government and OPSBA abruptly left the table on Sept. 11.
