The Provincial Discussion Table (PDT) 1. Why are we having this vote? Can't Provincial Executive (PE) just return to the PDT?
As you will recall from the assorted communications from PE last spring, OSSTF used the PDT to lobby the government for increased funding for education in order to establish the conditions for locally bargained collective agreements. Once the government and boards wanted to negotiate details (salary, benefits, workload, etc.), OSSTF withdrew from the table because our bylaws clearly state that the PE cannot engage in provincial bargaining without the consent of the membership that would be impacted by the negotiations. Now that PE has determined that the time is right to return to the PDT with the intent of establishing a framework for local negotiations, the vote is necessary before any bargaining can begin. 2. How soon will the PDT resume talks?
The final vote results will be known on Friday, November 14. If the PE has received approval from the teacher and occasional teacher bargaining units to return to the PDT then talks can resume any time after this date.
3. Why did we wait so long to go back to the PDT format?
As was outlined in President Ken Coran's letter, "the Provincial Executive has determined that conditions are now most favourable for developing a teacher/occasional teacher provincial discussion agreement framework" and that this framework "is the optimum way to get the best results for our members." 4. Why can't D16 negotiate its own contract with the Board?
The government has told all boards of education that it will only finance them for items covered by a PDT framework if the provincial bodies of the federations have signed such a framework. If the provincial bodies do not sign a framework then the funding a board receives will be much more limited. Any costs or improvements negotiated at the local table will be borne by the board if there is not a PDT agreement. Therefore, boards of education, including the YRDSB, are unwilling to negotiate cost items until a framework is in place. 5. What are the key issues being negotiated at the PDT?
If a PDT establishes a framework for local negotiations it would likely deal with some items related to salary, benefits and workload. 6. Does this mean the provincial executive doesn't care about local issues?
Absolutely not! It must be emphasized that even with a PDT framework agreement, there is still a great deal of negotiating left to do at the local table. For example, local agreements around class size or benefits will be different in every District. One District may want to focus on lowering class size in a specific area that is different than another District. One District may emphasize the use of benefit dollars in a specific area while another District will want to spend them in a different area. As well, local issues for one District that have no monetary impact will vary around the province. All local bargaining teams, while now in Provincial Responsibility for Negotiations (PRN), will continue to focus on these local issues.
The November 30th Deadline
1. Will we manage to meet the November 30, 2008 deadline?
The deadline as it currently stands would require not only a provincial framework signed off by November 30 but also finalized collective agreements in local teacher and occasional teacher bargaining units. While we have had many negotiation dates with the YRDSB, there still remain many areas that require attention. Your local team will not be rushed by the government into an agreement it doesn't support just to meet an artificial deadline.
2. What if we don't meet the deadline of November 30, 2008?
As we have expressed before in earlier editions of SIGNAL, the deadline is an arbitrary date that could easily be removed or changed by the government. The whole purpose behind the government's desire to have a four year deal is to establish peace and stability in education. While it could hold everyone to this original date, it wouldn't make a great deal of sense to create a crisis when all parties are acting in good faith to reach an agreement.
Salary
1. Can we negotiate for something higher than 3% for each of 4 years?
The Provincial OSSTF negotiators will endeavour to improve on the 3%. Whatever the result, it is unlikely that the government will allow the percentage increase agreed to at a PDT to be changed at a local table.
Benefits
1. Will all of our benefits be negotiated by the province now?
No. As was mentioned above, while a total dollar amount based on some grant money may be negotiated at a PDT, the application of this money would be a local decision based on the priorities established by the local members through the negotiations' surveys and other input gathering opportunities. 2. Are my benefits retroactive with an agreement at the PDT?
Since the specifics of the benefits package will be negotiated at the local bargaining table, the issue of retroactivity will be determined here and not at a PDT.
3. Will there be an improvement to my benefits?
A very clear local priority was improvement to benefits. The entire PRN team is aware of this and it will not lose its focus on this issue. Future Contracts
Does this mean we will always be locked into Provincial Bargaining for some items?
Since governments no longer allow boards of education any means of raising funds for local collective agreements, the face of bargaining is continuing to evolve. | 
Print This Page
