Ontario’s premier is digging in his heels by refusing to give teachers’ unions the 1-percent pay increase they’re looking for.
Doug Ford points out Ontario teachers are the second highest paid in the country, and have been fairly for years. “We either stay stagnant, and roll over, like the previous Liberal government did, and give the unions whatever they want. Or, we be responsible and respect the taxpayers’ money.” The premier added he wants to get a deal with teachers’ unions, with back to work legislation absolutely the last resort.
The premier adds Ontario does not have the $750-million teachers unions are asking for in pay increase due to the financial mess the province is coming out of.
He adds on-line learning is the way of the future.
After dropping the number of on-line course requirements from four to two, Doug Ford says he finds it ironic when looking at how the teachers update their credentials. “When the teachers have to upgrade their skills, guess what, they do it on-line. But it’s not all right for a Grade 11 or Grade 12 student to go on-line and take a course.”
You also won’t find Ford losing much sleep in compensating parents of children affected by teachers’ strikes. He says the government is using the pay teachers don’t get when they strike. “I think it was a good move that we’re using the teachers’ salaries to compensate the parents that have to pay, be it $60 or $40, to put their children in daycare.”
Ford adds the majority of parents support the government, considering families go through this every three to four years regardless of the government in power. He also says many teachers agree with the government but won’t say anything for fear of the unions.
