Framework Talks Collapse; Local Negotiations to Begin
Over the past four months, ETFO has been involved in provincial-level talks with the Ontario Public School Boards' Association and the Ministry of Education. These 'framework' talks were an attempt - prior to the beginning of local bargaining- to reach agreement on those collective agreement provisions that have significant associated costs and/or province-wide implications.
ETFO's focus in these talks was to eliminate the $711 gap in per-pupil funding that exists between the elementary and secondary panels.
On Friday, June 6, President David Clegg held a press conference to announce that the provincial talks had collapsed due to the Ministry's failure to close the funding gap in a significant way; and
that ETFO was moving to assume control of local negotiations.
Following the conference, leaders from ETFO's 64 locals signed provincial takeover documents allowing provincial office staff - together with local union officers - to begin negotiations with school boards.
