PARRY SOUND - Contracts are being imposed, but nothing is settled.
At a press conference last Thursday education minister Laurel Broten announced the government will be imposing contracts on public school teachers using authority granted under the controversial Bill 115 - the Putting Students First Act.
Once the contracts are imposed, Broten said the government will repeal Bill 115 as its goals will have been achieved.
Glen Hodgson, the Ontario Secondary School Teacher Federation District 4 president, said repealing the bill changes nothing for the teachers because the effect of the bill has already occurred.
“A member I talked to today characterized it as if you beat somebody with a baseball bat and then burn the baseball bat that doesn’t make it all better - you’ve already done the damage.”
Educational workers have called the bill undemocratic and unnecessary since it was first announced. The government has said it is a necessary step to decrease the province’s $15 billion debt.
Over the last few months, public teachers at both the high school and elementary level have protested the bill with a variety of measures.
Last month local elementary teachers held a one-day strike where they picketed outside two area schools and the office of Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller. Prior to that, high school teachers had cut down on the amount of administrative and extracurricular duties they would take part in.  
“We are certainly not giving up our fight, and we are going to continue to oppose the bill and not just the bill. Because the minister thinks she’s so clever and if she takes away the bill all of this goes away. We’re going to oppose the spirit of the bill and all the things that have happened as a result,” said Hodgson.
Teacher union leaders from across the province are holding a meeting today in Toronto where potential future action will be discussed.
Immediately following Thursday’s announcement, the Ministry of Education released a statement.
They said the newly imposed contracts should save the province $250 million this year and up to $540 million in the following school year.
 An additional one-time savings of $1.1 billion is expected with the elimination of banked sick days.
In a statement from Broten, she congratulated the school boards and union locals who negotiated agreements that met the government’s fiscal plan.
“I would ask everyone, especially teachers, to look carefully at the agreements being brought forward today. Our teachers remain among the best paid in Canada and their benefits remain generous,” said Broten.  
“Teaching continues to be a rewarding career for thousands of dedicated professionals, and we will continue to invest in young teachers and reward their academic achievements and experience. By working together, we can continue to ensure Ontario schools are among the best in the world.”
Throughout the dispute, both sides have accused the other of not being willing to negotiate fairly.
Representatives from the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario have said the provisions of Bill 115 restrict the ability to have a real negotiation. In turn, the government said ETFO leadership spent less than one hour at the negotiating table in the last 10 months.
“There was a statement made by the ETFO that they would even back off additional sanctions if the minister was willing to sit down and continue to negotiate,” said Hodgson. “As usual, the Liberals have chosen just to do their own thing and completely ignore other options. We’re very frustrated.”
Dave Bartlett, Near North teacher and local ETFO president, was unable to be reached for comment by press time, but union president, Sam Hammond, has released a statement.
Hammond said he does not believe the government should be dictating the terms and conditions of employment.
“By saying that she will repeal Bill 115 after using it to trample our rights, the education minister has admitted that the legislation is deeply flawed. Minister Broten will not erase the stain of Bill 115 simply by removing it after it is used. Ontarians will realize that democracy is not being well served by these actions,” Hammond said.