The union representing Catholic teachers in Ontario has taken a significant step toward potential job action by requesting conciliation in their ongoing negotiations with the Ford government.
Conciliation is a process that involves the appointment of a neutral third party by the Ministry of Labour to facilitate further discussions in labor negotiations.
The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) expressed their decision to pursue conciliation due to the sluggish progress of negotiations, which have been ongoing for nearly 18 months. However, they noted a positive shift in the tone of discussions at the bargaining table.
In October, Catholic teachers voted overwhelmingly in favor (97 percent) of giving their union a strike mandate. While this vote doesn’t guarantee a strike, it brings the union one step closer to the possibility of a walkout.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce’s spokesperson stated, “We stand with parents who want their children to stay in the classroom,” and expressed disappointment that OECTA had taken this step towards a potential strike. However, they also expressed a willingness to work with the conciliator to reach a fair agreement that ensures stability for families.
OECTA is one of the two major teaching unions in Ontario that has not yet reached an agreement with the province. The secondary and elementary teaching unions have both settled with the Ford government, with their agreements involving binding arbitration. Most recently, elementary teachers accepted a partially finalized deal, with remaining issues heading to binding arbitration.
Rene Jansen in De Wal, President of OECTA, emphasized the patience of his members throughout the negotiation process and expressed hope that conciliation could lead to a fair agreement that prevents a potential strike.
Should negotiations fail, the union will proceed with a “no-board” report, initiating a countdown to a strike. After the Ministry of Labour issues the no-board notice, the union must wait 17 full days before educators can legally go on strike after giving notice of strike action. This 17-day period allows school boards and parents to prepare for any potential strike-related disruptions.