Ontario English Catholic teachers to hold strike vote

Teachers in Ontario's English Catholic system will be holding strike votes Oct. 18 and 19.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association says it has been bargaining with the government for more than a year in the hopes of landing a fair deal, but says the province is not meaningfully engaging in discussions about funding public education.

OECTA's announcement and strike vote plans follow news last week that the unions representing public elementary and secondary teachers are also planning strike votes this fall.

The Catholic teachers' union says at their table, they still have not even finalized the scope of negotiations with the government.

President Rene Jansen in de Wal says in order to make progress, it has become necessary to conduct a strike vote to demonstrate teachers' resolve.

He said the province has given the union only two to three days a month to bargain despite a year at the table.

"It's not working," he said. "It's a chance for our members to show us a strong mandate to go to the bargaining team and it sends a clear message to the government that what's been happening isn't enough."

He said the situation at schools has "eroded" since the pandemic and teachers are alarmed. Both sides need to find common ground to improve the education system, he added.

In a statement, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said "the government has been bargaining in good faith" and that he believes a deal can be reached if teachers' unions stay at the table.

"After years of difficulty, nothing should matter more than ensuring students have a full year of uninterrupted learning, with a focus on boosting reading, writing and math," Lecce said.

"The threat of another strike by some of the teacher unions just weeks ahead of the start of school is unfair to parents and moves the focus away from getting a deal that keeps kids in class."

Jansen in de Wal says bargaining will continue while the strike votes are being conducted.