Employee groups can use salary funding for something else
Sep 18, 2008 - 02:22 PM
By Crystal Crimi
DURHAM -- Just because the Province offered elementary teachers a certain amount for wage increases, doesn't mean it has to go toward salaries.
There isn't any more money to be offered, but the government is willing to reconfigure where it goes through its proposed provincial framework agreements for Ontario's public elementary teachers, said Minister of Education, Kathleen Wynne.
"But the main point here is they need to come back to the table to have that discussion," Ms. Wynne said during an interview on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
With the Province's Nov. 30 deadline fast approaching, the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation still haven't signed provincial framework agreements.
Boards that sign local contracts by Nov. 30 have been promised funding for a three per cent wage increase for each of the contract's four years.
"The three per cent recognizes the importance of the work of teachers," said Patricia MacNeil, Ministry of Education senior media relations co-ordinator.
The framework also includes more numeracy and literacy coaches, more secretaries, staff and other items.
Boards without a contract by Nov. 30 will only be funded for a two per cent wage increase for the 2008/2009 year. They also wouldn't get any of the other funding increases, such as for prep time and supervision, Ms. MacNeil said.
"I think our members are rightfully upset," said David Clegg, president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario regarding the threat of less funding.
Both teacher groups have said money isn't the issue.
On the secondary front, the union wants to be free of the framework and left to bargain without the Province's stipulations, said Shelley Page, Durham local president, Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, recently.
For elementary teachers, it's about closing the gap in per-pupil funding between the elementary and secondary levels. Secondary students are allotted about $711 more per year, said Rachel Gencey, Durham local president, ETFO, in a previous interview.
Mr. Clegg said he's not suggesting the salary increase is substandard and they're not trying to get more money, but the increase would also double supervision time, take another 30 years to eliminate the funding gap and include other negatives.
"The proposal was brought to the table and within 10 to 15 minutes or so, ETFO decided they weren't going to continue the discussion," Ms. Wynne said. No conversation has occurred since.
When asked about trading increases to fund the gap, he said an interesting feature of the framework is the 'Me Too" clause, which entitles a board that's already signed to any increases another federation was able to achieve. It would be interesting to see if that deal would work in reverse for salaries, he said.
But it wouldn't, according to the Ministry.
Having a four-year contract in place provides stability, Ms. Wynne said.
"Parents don't have to worry, teachers don't have to worry," she said. Conflict resolution requires a lot of energy and they want that energy focused on student achievement.
"There's still a lot of time before Nov. 30," Ms. Wynne said. "I'm really optimistic."
Secondary school support workers have some negotiation dates set up, she said.
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