With contracts set to expire at the end of August, Ontario teacher and education worker unions are calling on the provincial government to begin bargaining early in an effort to avoid classroom disruption and address urgent education concerns.
Union leaders issued a joint statement Monday urging Education Minister Paul Calandra to allow negotiations to start up to 180 days before the current collective agreements expire on August 31. That timeline would allow talks to begin as early as this week.
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) president Martha Hradowy described early negotiations as a “practical and responsible step” to provide stability for students, educators and families.
“It gives everybody the time and space needed for meaningful discussions focused on solutions, like smaller class sizes and better learning conditions,” Hradowy said.
Union leaders say several pressing issues must be addressed, including class sizes, recruitment and retention of teachers and education workers, increased staffing investments, improved health and safety supports, and enhanced special education services.
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) president David Mastin echoed similar concerns, noting that compensation and retention strategies will also be major bargaining priorities. Mastin emphasized that early talks could help ensure smoother negotiations compared to the last bargaining round.
The previous round of contract negotiations was contentious and resulted in education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) walking off the job. That strike closed schools for two days before the provincial government agreed to repeal controversial legislation that had imposed contracts and used the notwithstanding clause to override certain Charter rights.
Calandra’s office responded by stating that the Labour Relations Act already allows for notice to bargain 90 days before contract expiry, which they argue provides sufficient time to reach a fair agreement.
Meanwhile, Calandra has also signalled that a major governance overhaul for school boards may be announced soon, potentially reducing the role of elected trustees. Mastin warned that such changes could significantly impact the bargaining process, as trustees play a role in both central and local negotiations.
Destreaming — the elimination of the applied and academic split in Grade 9 — is also expected to be a key focus in negotiations. Hradowy said teachers need additional supports and smaller class sizes to properly manage the increased complexity within classrooms.
“If the policy goal is equity, then the funding and staffing have to match it,” she said.
NDP education critic Chandra Pasma added that early bargaining would allow both sides to work in good faith while focusing on student outcomes and safe classroom environments.
