Randall Denley: In Ontario, students seek normalcy as labor dispute threatens another grade as parents

Ontario parents after two years of pandemic-disrupted education and students aspire to: A regular grade, a grade characterized by face-to-face learning and extracurricular activities. Unfortunately, this return to normalcy is threatened by the potential for labor disruption.

Unlike a pandemic, labor disputes can be avoided, but early signs are not encouraging. The government has offered nominal pay increases to support staff represented by the Civil Service Union of Canada. Those earning less than her $40,000 a year will receive 2% annually for four years. A person over $40,000 a year he only receives 1.25%.

With inflation surpassing 7% in July and average wages up 5.2% year-on-year, the government's proposal looks very light. That said, it's far more realistic than the union's demand of 33% over three years.

Discussions with other education unions are ongoing, but details have yet to be announced.

Trade unions and governments alike will make a fuss before contract negotiations are over. The government has considered CUPE's request case-by-case, saying that a 33% wage increase, if spread across the education sector, would cost $21.8 billion, costing British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Interesting, but irrelevant.

Both CUPE and the Ontario Primary School Teachers Federation have discussed stopping education cuts. What cuts are they? Spending on basic education programs will rise from $28.5 billion in 2020-21 to $35.1 billion in 2024-25 projections.

Over the past decade, total enrollment in Ontario schools has remained roughly the same, but salaries have increased by 39% and student grants paid to the board have increased by 77%, the government said. says.

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Primary school teachers are being trained on the so-called education spending gap. The state's Office of Financial Accountability believes the government will need to spend $12.3 billion more from her budget on education over the next nine years than government budget projections indicate. Teachers call it "unacceptable, unsustainable, unacceptable." It is also unlikely. Accounting controversy. Government figures do not include expected wage increases.

Both governments and education unions generate many figures and arguments to support their positions, but the question boils down to one simple question. Public awareness is important. That is why the government is spending money on a massive advertising campaign for back-to-school plans.

The government clearly intends to use the word "fair" as often as possible when describing its negotiating position, but this is not the case. Fair view of a fair 1.25% annual salary increase, especially when her CUPE member is he one of the lowest paid education workers and wage increases over the past three years are capped at 1% per year is difficult.

Naturally, the government wants to make settlements with education unions as cheap as possible. It still runs a sizeable deficit and faces a steep rise in healthcare costs. However, the reality of the situation suggests that a low settlement is unlikely.

Educators would expect some form of compensation for three years of wage restraint. who wouldn't Low single digit numbers can't be sold fairly when inflation is so high. A more sensible approach would be to take inflation into account and provide a large number in the first year, a number closer to 5%, and a smaller number in the following years when we can reasonably assume that inflation will fall. is.

The government should also be prepared to pay some premium to get CUPE a four-year contract instead of the three she wants. Its length causes all the chaos of education negotiations past the next election day.

Education Minister Steven Lecce said, "After two years of disruption caused by the pandemic, students need to be in the classroom on time and without disruption." increase. Perhaps teachers and other educators would agree. If not, they are doing the wrong job.

Ontario closed schools for more days than any other state during the pandemic. Students suffered significant losses in learning and socialization. It is up to the responsible adult to avoid further confusion. Ultimately, an agreement was reached with the education union that the final figure would not be 2% per annum or his 11%. Both sides need to get serious and put the kids first.

Randall Denley is an Ottawa journalist, author and former Ontario candidate for his PC. Please contact randalldenley1@gmail.com.