Ontario students return to school amidst teacher contract concerns

While students are ready to head back to the classroom, all four unions that represent teachers in Ontario are still without a contract, part of what they are asking for is more support for better working conditions and a focus on special education.

“What we do know is that they have a $22 billion surplus. They have more than enough money to commit to the system to meet these system needs. We shouldn’t have gone over a year without a contract,” said ETFO President Karen Brown.

Brown says that the requests union members are making are reasonable and that the changes will enhance student learning and create better working conditions for staff.

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“There’s a shortage of resources and support for schools. There’s a shortage of help for the student mental health, special needs students,” said OECTA President Rene’ Jansen in de Wal.

“There’s a teacher supply shortage, but it’s actually a recruitment and retention issue, which is, you know, what’s happening in health care and other places because they’re not being well managed. If you want,” he said.

Both the Catholic teachers union and the elementary teachers union will be having a strike vote this month, but that doesn’t mean there will be a strike, they say it just puts more pressure on the government.

As for public high school teachers, the province says a tentative agreement has been reached with the union but that hasn’t been voted on yet.

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