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Ontario Labour Relations Board to Review Scope
Yesterday, on August 31, the OECTA Provincial Bargaining Team (PBT) met with representatives of the Government of Ontario (Crown) and the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA), to continue negotiations for the renewal of the central terms of our collective agreement.
As reported in previous Provincial Bargaining Updates, the PBT has been working diligently over the past several bargaining sessions to reach an agreement on the “scope” of negotiations, to determine which matters will be addressed at the central bargaining table, and which will be addressed in local bargaining.
While talks were respectful and some progress was made, a full agreement on “scope” has not been
reached. As such, per the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, the matter will be referred to the
Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB), which will determine what items fall within the “scope” of central
bargaining.
While the OLRB is required to render a decision in an “expeditious manner,” its determination may take
weeks, requiring all previously reported tentative bargaining dates to be rescheduled. Once the OLRB
renders its decision, the parties will determine future tentative bargaining dates.
Please remember that central bargaining is a lengthy and multifaceted process, which, from time to time,
necessitates such rulings from the OLRB to resolve disagreements between the parties and to keep the
process moving. The Association will keep you apprised of relevant information on these proceedings and will provide you with the revised tentative bargaining dates when they become available.