Daily BrewOntario teachers’ union finally ends blockade against extracurricular activities
Ontario's long-grumbling elementary school teachers' union has finally conceded the last plot of land in an ongoing war over imposed teacher contracts, announcing they would allow teachers to participate in extracurricular activities.
Sam Hammond, the president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), said union members are allowed to return to coaching and tutoring students outside of class hours because negotiations with the provincial government have improved.
“ETFO and the government have been involved in meaningful discussions since February,” Hammond said in a statement. “Talks are continuing, and we are now confident that the government has demonstrated a commitment to dealing with concrete items of importance to our members.”
ETFO and the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers' Federation had stopped their members from participating in extracurricular activities in protest to a government-imposed end to contract negotiations last year.
The Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers' Federation voted to allow individual union members to make their own decision on extracurricular activities last month.
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A deal brought in by the Liberal government under former premier Dalton McGuinty froze teacher salaries for two years, rolled back various benefits and blocked the unions' right to strike in protest.
The backlash that followed at least in part led to McGuinty stepping down as premier and Kathleen Wynne, a former education minister, being named as his replacement.
In a late-night statement, Wynne said she was pleased ETFO has stopped its ban on extracurricular activities.
Today's news is a great indication of the hard work all parties are putting into the repair of this valued relationship. It shows our willingness to work together, to listen to one another's concerns, and to find common ground on which we can rebuild a foundation of trust and create an effective process going forward.
Our government has immense respect for the educators of this province and we recognize the important role they play in our children's lives and in communities across Ontario.
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The decision to allow teachers to participate in extracurricular activities is certainly good news, but it comes pretty late in the game. Some teachers were already making overtures on their own, while others pressured them to tow the union line.
ETFO itself has threatened fines against members who did not stay the course, and all the while students complained that the loss of extracurricular activities had tarnished their high school experience and would hurt their chances at getting into good universities.
So while it is great that ETFO is finally allowing its members to get back to helping students, one laments the damage it has caused over the past year. The hope is that whatever deal the unions and government meet will avoid another standoff.
