All of the employee collective agreements in the Bruce Grey Catholic School Board expire this August — the board is anticipating some tough negotiations.
Tough economic times coupled with the Drummond report have left many teachers and school board employees apprehensive and unsure of the future.
Secondary Teacher Union President Bill King is concerned about a recommendation to eliminate 13 thousand jobs in the school system.
King says this would have detrimental impact on students.
King adds its no secret that the Province is in a lot of debt, and he claims teachers are willing to do their part.
But King disagrees with a Tory recommendation to implement a wage freeze.
He says it would be far better for employees to sit down at the bargaining table and negotiate a fair settlement.
King admits the contract negotiations with the Bruce Grey Catholic School Board will be tougher than in previous years.
He notes the province is in discussions with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association this week to discuss contract terms.
Catholic Human Resource Director Suzanne White is also anxiously awaiting those results.
White admits these lean times will make contract negotiations that much more of a challenge for both sides of the bargaining table.
Proposed cuts to non teaching staff — such as Educational Assistants and suggestion of a user fee systems for in town bussing — has also raised local union concerns.
Teachers’ sick days may also be a target of Liberal government deficit fighting.
The government wants to end teachers’ ability to accumulate sick days in addition to freezing their salaries for two years.
Retiring teachers can get a lump-sum payment averaging 46 thousand dollars by banking sick days over their career.
Education Minister Laurel Broten says accumulated sick days have left the government with a liability of 1.7 billion dollars.
