Teacher unions across Ontario have officially served the Ford government a notice to start bargaining, citing persistent underfunding and understaffing across the province's education system. The government has fifteen days to respond and for bargaining to begin.
The unions, including the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, presented their notice alongside other education unions representing teachers, support staff and other education workers. They highlighted multiple issues including class sizes, classroom violence and working conditions.
For grades four through eight, the unions are seeking a maximum class size of twenty-four students. For kindergarten classes, which have two adults in the classroom, they are requesting a cap of twenty-six students.
The move follows the experience of fifty-seven thousand CUPE education workers who demonstrated their readiness for action in 2022. Union leaders say they remain prepared for this round of negotiations as well.
Education Minister Paul Calandra struck a calm tone, saying he wants the best for teachers and a fair deal for taxpayers. He expressed optimism that they would be able to work out an agreement and ensure children are back in classrooms by September.
However, the spectre of a potential strike in September is causing anxiety among parents who remember the disruption caused by previous labour disputes in the education sector. Union leaders have not ruled out job action if negotiations fail.
The bargaining comes at a time when education workers across the province report increasing levels of violence in classrooms, inadequate support for students with special needs, and salaries that have not kept pace with inflation. The unions say three months is sufficient time to reach a deal if the government is willing.