ETFO SAYS ONTARIO GOVERNMENT VIOLATED BARGAINING OBLIGATION WITH RELEASE OF EDUCATION MEMO

The union representing Ontario’s elementary teachers has filed a complaint with the province’s labour tribunal, accusing the government of failing to bargain in good faith over the release of an education memorandum last month.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) said the complaint was filed with the Ontario Labour Relations Board on Tuesday, citing that the Ford government violated its obligations under the bargaining legislation when it sent out a memo on July 28 directing school boards to complete annual early screenings for all students in Year 2 of Kindergarten through Grade 2.

ETFO, which is currently negotiating a new collective agreement with the government, said by releasing the memo during bargaining with early reading screening among the issues on the table, the province “has violated the good faith duties imposed on all parties by education and bargaining legislation.”