No board report issued by Ministry of Labour to ETFO

Ontario’s public elementary school teachers will be in a legal strike position on Nov. 25, after the union representing them received a so-called “no board report” from the Ministry of Labour.
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario says it received the report Friday morning kicking off a 17-day countdown before teachers can legally walk off the job.
Rob Hammond, is the local president for ETFO President and represents Near North Teachers.

He told BayToday there are several issues that need to be addressed for there to be a settlement.

“It means the government is not willing to move on any of the major issues including kindergarten, students with special needs and class sizes,” Hammond says.

Last week, the union announced its members voted 98 per cent in favour of a strike, calling the result an overwhelming mandate for job action if necessary.

Hammond says that doesn’t necessarily mean that’ll happen.

“That doesn’t mean we’ve left the bargaining table. We’re willing to negotiate. It’s whether the government is willing to change its positions,” he says.

(photo by station staff)