Province legislating striking teachers back to work

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The Ontario government has tabled back-to-work legislation for striking secondary school teachers — but it will take until at least end of the week before students are back in the classroom.

The reason for the delay is because the NDP refused to support the motion; without unanimous support the bill should pass by Thursday. That would mean students could be back in the classroom by Friday.

Education minister Liz Sandals says her decision was made after consultation with the Education Relation Commission which says the school year is in jeopardy for around 72,000 students in Peel, Durham, and Sudbury.

“The ERC in its ruling recognized the local talks were at an impasse, there is no reasonable prospect that the local talks were going to conclude within a very short time frame. I can’t see why anyone would have any interest in blocking the bill to be honest you with you, but that’s not my decision to
make.”

Durham region is just entering its sixth week of strike action, having walked out on April 20th. Sudbury and Peel each walked out in the following two weeks.