Concessions by PC-government in dispute with teachers’ unions show effects from rotating strikes

BY PAUL JUNOR

In what seems like a surprise move the PC-led provincial government announced on Tuesday, March 3^rd, 2020 that it would back down from its demands on class size and e-learning.

The Minister of Education, Stephen Leece made the announcement  to reporters that there will not be the planned increase of 25 students in the class as the average for high school classes, but now 23 which is an increase by one from last year. In addition, he announced that the requirements of  two e-learning courses as a graduation requirement will not be mandatory.

This is a significant concession by the government in its fight with the teachers’ unions which has been going on for over six months. There are still a lot of uncertainties with respect to how receptive the unions will be to this new change.

The effects of the previous announced increased class sizes are already being felt in school boards across the province. Many boards have already seen class sizes increased into the 30’s as well as cutbacks to services, cancellation of courses and  reduction in the number of teachers. The teachers’ unions have been adamant that it is not just wage increase which the government has restricted to 1% that is the major stumbling block, but the effect of increased class size.

The Ontario Secondary Teachers Federation (OSSTF) has resumed negotiations with the government after stopping on December 13^th, 2019. This is a good sign that there may be hope. At the press conference, Stephen Lecce announced that the PC-government was willing to restore funding to selective special education grants and to offer parents the option of having their teenagers opt out of the two mandatory e-learning courses. There is no doubt that the government is responding to public pressure from parents and students who have expressed displeasure regarding these on-line courses.

According to OSSTF president Harvey Bischof as reported in the Saturday, March 7^th, Toronto Star, “We already see overcrowded classrooms and disappearing  courses, often courses students need in order to graduate. This proposal does nothing to address those serious problems, all of which have come about thanks to the Ford government’s short-sighted policies.” The OSSTF has indicated that it will temporarily hold off its rotating one-day walkout until March 27^th. This is no doubt influenced by  March Break scheduled for March 16^th – 23th.

One of the major hurdles between the PC-government and the unions has been the issue of having a merit-based hiring for teachers instead of one based on seniority and placing special education funding to school boards instead of through the unions. Consistently, Education Minster, Stephen Leece has  been  repeating the line that the average salary of high school teachers is far too exorbitant. By capping the wage increase at 1% the government hopes to reduce the increase in the education budget further. The unions are opposed to this cap because they see it as subverting the bargaining process and imposed without consultations between the affected parties.

In a poll that was released by the Toronto Star by Campaign Research on Saturday, March 7^th, 2020 indicated that up to 57% of the respondents were in favour of teachers accepting the government offer, while 22% were not in favour. 56% would like the teachers to cancel their rotating strikes and only 25% were in favour of it continuing.

Only time will tell what will happen. With only four more months left in the school year, there are still many uncertainties. Parents are no doubt uncertain about how this ongoing rotating one-day strikes will continue to impact their children’s academic  progress and performance. With EQAO  tests being cancelled for grade 3, 6  and 9 and possibly for grade 10 students who usually write the grade 10 Reading and Writing Test in March, this is of major concern. The literacy test is a graduation requirement and if students do  not write it successfully, they will not be able to receive their grade 12 diploma.