Threat of strike still looming on the last day of school

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The provincial government confirmed today that it would cost the province an extra 3.2-billion dollars to meet current contract demands by Ontario teachers. The figures come from the Ontario Public School Boards’ association, and includes salary demands for a three percent raise in each of the next three years. While the politics rage behind the scenes, Scot Urquhart tells us that on the school grounds today, students were thinking of only one thing.

It may have sounded like a typical school day just before nine o’clock this morning, but this day, is a special day for students. It’s the last day of the school year, and they’re not sure, when the next one will begin.

The looming threat of a strike by Ontario teachers next fall has left parents, teachers, school boards, unions, and the government wondering how the summer will play out. At the moment, the union for public elementary teachers, has refused further comment, referring back to a statement from Union President Sam Hammond issued several days ago, saying the union will not return to the bargaining table until the province removes offensive proposals regarding class size, and prep time from the bargaining table.

The public high school union is threatening to withdraw extra curricular activities before school starts next fall, but wouldn’t say today whether it’s negotiators are still at the table, or not. The Catholic school boards of the province are still talking, but the Halton District school board said today that ” while it is true that OECTA filed for conciliation, we remain optimistic that all parties will continue to work together throughout the summer to reach agreements. It is our hope that there will be no disruption to student learning come September. ”

The ongoing dispute has already caused concern about end of year report cards for elementary students, but a quick survey of the Hamilton, Halton and Niagara boards today revealed that report cards have already gone out in both public and catholic boards, except for the Halton District school board, which has now approved 100-thousand dollars in extra funding, to get the report cards out to students before next September.