Teachers file for conciliation

Ontario’s English Catholic teachers are asking for a conciliator to help their contract negotiations with the province. The talks have been ongoing for almost 18 months, and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association says progress has been “extremely slow.” The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario have reached deals with the government that settle certain issues and leave others to an arbitrator to decide. OECTA president René Jansen in de Wal says Catholic teachers have been “beyond patient, especially as other education affiliates reach tentative agreements,” so they hope that with the help of a conciliator, progress can be made faster.