Talks broke off late Friday — after three days — between the Ford government and elementary teachers’ union, with each side blaming the other.What was seen as a small step forward amid escalating tensions with teachers ended with the government saying it offered the union the full commitment to full-day kindergarten it had sought, but that compensation remained a key sticking point with educators seeking 2 per cent a year.The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, however, told its 83,000 members in a late-night memo that the “the government wants to reduce funding to support the learning needs of special education students, and it wants ETFO to agree to those cuts at the bargaining table.”“We can’t do that,” said president Sam Hammond, adding the province refused to address a number of key issues.The mediator called off the talks “for now,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a statement. “The government stands ready to meet at any time, to reach a deal that keeps students in class,” he also said.While ETFO has no new dates for bargaining, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association will be in talks Monday — a day before a scheduled province-wide walkout — and the AEFO, representing French board teachers, will resume next Wednesday and Thursday. “We look forward to the opportunity to negotiate to reach a settlement that keeps students in class and ends the union-led disruption that is affecting so many students across the province,” Lecce said.“We continue to ask the unions to come to the table with realistic proposals that prioritize student success. Our students deserve no less.”AEFO president Rémi Sabourin said “all parties are committed to pursuing bargaining.” The AEFO also sat down with the government and school board associations this week while its 12,000 members continued to work to rule.The province ...
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