Many people expected a bad end to the elementary school labour talks and that seems to be what they’re getting. Meetings have broken off and both sides are proclaiming a kind of wonderment that this has happened. The education minister, Liz Sandals, says the government and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association have tabled a “comprehensive” proposal to the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) that she says is in line with the tentative agreements reached with other teacher unions in the province. The head of the teachers union, Sam Hammond seems staggered: “We’re shocked at this development,” he said. Hammond accused the Liberal government of “walking away” from talks and refusing to continue bargaining. He hinted at even tougher action in schools where labour strife has already cost 800,000 public elementary school kids field trips and parents chances to meet with teachers.
LITTLE CONCERN STATED FOR PUPILS
And so, the mothers and fathers who elected the government watch, without information, as the school system they own is held hostage by the union. Such circumstances would not be permitted except through the fear of electoral vengeance of a province-wide union of teachers ready to vote against the Liberals at the next election. There is no apparent capacity in the cabinet to face down the teachers with back-to-work legislation and little interest expressed among teachers for their professional duty.
