Ontario education minister urges 3 unions to avoid job action

Let’s talk about negotiations now and move to that because of course that is another big topic you know I remember covering I interviewed you when there was the massive teacher of strike uh and I you know don’t think that anybody in Ontario wants to see that you call this

An agreement High School teachers uh say that this is tentative but what I want to know from you is are you still working on what is going to be discussed at the central table and if so why is this taking so long so it is a tentative agreement that lays

Out a process that avoids a strike it allows us to keep negotiating Travis in good faith having spirited discussions at the table till October 27th we’re going to keep meeting like literally we’ll keep meeting right to the end to get as many issues negotiated by the parties any outstanding matter by

October 27th would therefore then be sent to an intercompetration system that that that arbitrator would be decided by all parties mutually consented so it’s a fair system it’s worked in healthcare and a variety of other sectors of the economy and it allows us to negotiate while keeping kids in class the number one

The most important thing a government could do and I would argue the educator Union should do as well is protect the in-person learning experience for kids they’ve been through so much so this is a sensible reasonable plan it allows us to negotiate in good faith but turn to an independent incredible third-party

Arbitrator to adjudicate on those outstanding issues and while protecting personal learning and that’s a fair offer we’ve got a tentative agreement with ossdf yes subject to ratification and we’re calling on the other unions to come forward work with the government sit down with us allow us to present

This offer and get this deal done so that yes we can provide stability for every single child in Ontario our time is limited so I do want to get through a couple more things but on the arbitration the arbitration from my understanding would only address salary but there are other issues violence in

Schools mental supports additional social workers needed and some Educators saying uh that while you are saying there’s been progress on that front they’re not seeing that in the front line on the front line in schools yeah so I mean all issues would be sent to the arbitrator that are outstanding

So he or she would have the authority to render a judgment to to essentially a decision on any issue that is outstanding that hasn’t been fully negotiated by the parties what I can tell you is this school year we’ve got we’re hiring 2 000 additional Educators focused on literacy and math we are

Increasing Investments by nearly 700 million more dollars in baseball we have a new Landmark 180 million dollar literacy plan that actually invests in literacy experts in the classroom and we’re doubling the math coaches and for the first time Travis just very briefly we now have a math lead one individual

Who’s given the singular responsibility to improve outcomes training professional development and the skills developed for these kids when it comes to math so there’s a ton of new resources in place to help them succeed a big sticking point in previous negotiations has been salary as you know

I do not have to tell you that we are in an affordability crisis in this country why should Educators salaries not keep up with the rate of inflation well we’re going to keep having those discussions at the table if we can agree that’d be brilliant if we can’t we’ll be

Able to make our case before an interest arbitration system who will make the division like they do like nurses for example so you know we’re going to keep making the case through at the table working with a good faith with our partners but any outstanding issues

Where we can agree on a number of specific uh metric we could agree with it then gets sent to interest arbitrary process allows fairness it allows kids to stay in school it allows for stability to Prevail for these kids after years of difficulty so I think we can continue to

Have those negotiations confidentially at the table anything outstanding compensation wages benefits Etc if we can agree now on October 27th we now have a credible process that leads us to a resolution that protects the in-person learning experience for kids and frankly honestly what else could matter more to

Give these kids some hope some stability an opportunity to rebuild the skills that they may have lost over the past year so this is fundamental to the success and their health physical health as well

‘The most important thing a government can do, and I would argue the educator union should do as well, is protect the in-person learning experience for kids. They’ve been through so much,’ Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce says. Lecce is urging three unions to agree to a deal that would avoid a strike in Ontario schools.

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