Press Release
After just one day, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) walked away from the bargaining table on the afternoon of April 12.
This was the 12th attempt by the Rainy River District School Board to reach a fair, local negotiated settlement with OSSTF District 5B.
OSSTF District 5B remains as one of only three secondary federations in 31 public school boards, across the province, without a local agreement.
“We are deeply disappointed as a board in the actions of the OSSTF leadership in this negotiation process,” said board chair Dianne McCormack.
“While they talk about respect for classroom teachers, something we agree with without question, they actually demonstrate a profound disrespect for the bargaining process,” she charged.
“When OSSTF abandons the bargaining table, they also destroy the chance for a local settlement that serves our incredible, committed secondary teachers and our secondary students,” McCormack noted.
“This choice by OSSTF leadership is not in the best interests of those students, nor OSSTF members,” she stressed.
“We urge OSSTF District 5B to return to the table to work with us on a fair, negotiated settlement.”
McCormack also said there is absolutely zero reason for OSSTF District 5B to escalate its job action to get the board back to the table.
“The board remains willing to meet,” she noted.
“All that is needed is a willingness, on their part, to meet, to negotiate in good faith, to come together with mutual respect and understanding, and agree on a local deal that is fair to teachers, to students, and to the board—something we have always done here in the Rainy River District.”
McCormack added there are no local issues that are insurmountable.
“The legislation requires most negotiated items to be dealt with at the provincial table, which was done,” she explained.
“What remains now are local issues that, while important, should not have resulted in prolonged job action that directly affects our secondary students, especially when almost every other secondary school student and teacher in the province is enjoying a truly normal school year.
“If parents, students, taxpayers, and our teachers are wondering why that is the case, we want to be very clear about our position: we want a deal and OSSTF Local needs to be at the table for that to happen,” McCormack said.
