OSSTF/FEESO Reaches Impasse With Provincial Government and OPSBA

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - April 17, 2015) - The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) is disappointed to report that the talks with the government and the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) are at an impasse and formal talks have ended. The union representing Ontario's high school teachers is urging the management team to rethink its bargaining position that would lead to significant reductions of face-to-face time between teachers and their students.

The provincial government and its partner school boards have focused exclusively on cuts to current contracts and are determined to limit time available for teachers to support students. It is teachers who must stand up and fight for the resources students need to be successful.

"The last thing our teachers want is to be outside of their classrooms", stated Paul Elliott, President of OSSTF/FEESO. "But we've been left no choice. An impasse at the central table pushes us closer to additional strike action at boards across the province. These matters must be taken seriously and we've seen no indication the government has any bargaining intent other than to demonstrate to other public sector unions that they've been tough with teachers. Teachers cannot tolerate any further cuts which will decrease their ability to provide the support required for all Ontario students to succeed."

OSSTF/FEESO, founded in 1919, has 60,000 members across Ontario. They include public high school teachers, occasional teachers, educational assistants, continuing education teachers and instructors, early childhood educators, psychologists, secretaries, speech-language pathologists, social workers, plant support personnel, university support staff, and many others in education.