Wynne calls teachers’ unions, school boards to meeting to restart negotiations

Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne. (Photo by Uiaeli/Wikimedia Commons.)

TORONTO – Premier Kathleen Wynne is meeting with leaders of Ontario’s teachers unions and public school boards this morning to try and jump-start stalled contract negotiations.

The Liberals tried to keep the meeting secret, refusing to confirm it was even scheduled, and holding it in one of the government office blocks in downtown Toronto instead of the premier’s office.

The large English-language teachers’ unions are already in legal strike positions and are threatening increased work-to-rule campaigns when classes begin in September.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation has warned teachers will not supervise extracurricular activities this fall if there is no contract.

Education Minister Liz Sandals, who is also at the meeting, said earlier this week that she expected deals would be negotiated in August and teachers would be in classrooms doing their regular duties on Sept. 8.

Sandals refused to say if the government would back off a request from school boards to lift a limit on class sizes, something the Liberals originally introduced and the unions say is a key reason they won’t return to negotiations.