Catholic teachers’ union files for conciliation in provincial talks
Posted Jun 24, 2015 05:23:13 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Ontario’s English Catholic school teachers have filed for conciliation in their provincial contract talks, which could set the stage for a strike.
Their union says it will nonetheless continue bargaining with the government and trustees this summer and hopes to reach an agreement before the new school year.
The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, which represents some 50,000 teachers, says there has been little progress on key issues that would affect students’ learning conditions.
Its members voted 94 per cent for a strike mandate in April.
Several major teachers’ unions have listed class sizes, control over teacher preparation time and hiring practices as sticking points in negotiations.
They have raised the possibility of September strikes, which could make for a tense summer of bargaining.
