Lecce ‘disappointed’ after exploratory talks break down with teachers’ union

Education Minister Stephen Lecce says he is disappointed after exploratory talks between the government and Ontario’s secondary school teachers’ union broke down Tuesday night.

According to the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), no future bargaining dates have been scheduled.

The break down came just hours after the province announced it would back down on some key demands in the contract talks like class sizes and new e-learning requirements.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Lecce said the province would lower average high school classes to 23, just above its current level of 22 and well below the 28 the government had put on the table last year. He also said the province would make online courses optional rather than mandatory.

Lecce said those proposals were put before the unions weeks ago, but both the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association and the OSSTF say Tuesday’s news conference marked the first time they’d heard them.

Ontario teachers and education workers are still planning a second mass demonstration at the legislature Thursday.

It comes less than two weeks after a province-wide strike by the four major teachers’ unions.

All Elementary and high school English Catholic teachers as well as public high school teachers at the Grand Erie District School Board and the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board will be holding a strike Thursday.

Members of those unions will likely be among the 15,000 people expected at the protest outside the legislature.