Ontario education unions begin contract talks with province

Ontario’s five major education unions have served notice to bargain, starting contract talks with the province ahead of agreements that expire in August. The unions say they will focus on smaller class sizes, stronger special education funding and higher wages. Union leaders said they want more support for increasingly complex classrooms, including staffing levels they say are not keeping pace with students’ needs. They argued that smaller classes, especially in kindergarten and Grades 4 to 8, would improve learning conditions and reduce pressure on educators. Education Minister Paul Calandra said he expects difficult negotiations but said he is optimistic the province can work collaboratively with the unions. The last round of talks avoided teacher strikes through arbitration, though CUPE education workers did stage a twoday strike before the government later repealed antistrike legislation affecting them.