Local union representatives of high school and elementary school teachers in the Upper Grand District School Board are declining comment on tentative contract negotiations with the province.
“EFTO is in a strict media blackout,” District 18 Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (EFTO) president Doug Cook, also a member of the provincial executive, said in an email after the Advertiser attempted to contact him. “The best I can do is let you know when the blackout is lifted.”
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) District 18 president Paul Rawlinson could not be reached for comment.
Education minister, Guelph MPP Liz Sandals has also declined comment, sending out media advisories.
“Over the past number of weeks, we have been having positive, collaborative discussion with our education partners,” Sandals said.
“Those discussions have been critical to rebuilding important relationships inside and outside of our schools and have already delivered results for students, parents, teachers and support staff, with the gradual return of extra-curricular activities at both elementary and secondary schools.
“Our objective since the bargaining of these discussion has been clear – repair the relationship so that we can focus on continuing to build one of the best education systems.”
Ontario’s teachers have been in conflict with the province since contracts were imposed by the province under Bill 115, which prohibited teachers from bargaining and taking any strike action.
Bill 115 was rescinded in the beginning of the year after contracts were imposed. In response teachers have declined to participate in extra curricular activities at the urging of their unions. The unions recently lifted the ban.
Agreements in principle have been reached with both unions, but details will not be made public until teachers have an opportunity to look at and approve contract terms.
ETFO President Sam Hammond announced he would host a press conference on April 3, but results were not known by press time.
