The union representing Ontario's public elementary teachers has launched the next phase of its work-to-rule campaign, saying the terms it has been offered are "inadequate."

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) began Phase 3 of the work-to-rule on Monday morning, since a deal between the union and the province has not been reached. Members of ETFO have been without contracts for a year, and have been in a legal strike position since May.

In a statement, ETFO President Sam Hammond said the government and Ontario Public School Board Association "abruptly" left the bargaining table during the previous negotiations on Sept. 7.

"The government is trying to cut corners by offering elementary teachers a deal designed for secondary teachers," Hammond said.

"Elementary teachers and students have different needs than secondary teachers and students."

In Monday's statement, Hammond said, "Despite what the government is implying, it has not offered our members the same conditions as secondary teachers."

Hammond said there is a "significant disparity" in funding for elementary and secondary schools, and the gap results in larger classes and less student support.

"The deal the government insists ETFO accept does absolutely nothing to close that gap," Hammond said.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said she hoped an agreement would be reached soon.

"The fact is that we have been able to come to agreements with all of the other teacher groups," she said.

"My hope would be that in very short order we are able to get back to the table and be able to have a conversation with ETFO."

In addition to the daily work-to-rule action, teachers are now taking part in "Wynne Wednesdays," a weekly campaign aimed to encourage action from the premier herself, rather than the Ministry of Education.

When asked how she felt about the Wednesday protests, she said the negotiation isn't personal for her.

"It's being personalized because that's a political tactic," she said. "It's not about my personal feelings. It's about, how do we get an agreement that's in the best interest of the kids in this province."

As of Monday morning, the union's 78,000 teachers and occasional teachers will:

  • Not fill in for an absent teacher or take on additional students if a class is collapsed because an occasional teacher has not been retained
  • Not take on additional duties during regularly scheduled preparation time (including teaching in another class)
  • Not participate in teacher performance appraisal meetings, unless the member is on an improvement plan or long-term occasional assignment
  • Not respond to email, electronic or phone communication from administrators unless it involves the safety of others, absences, day plans or occasional teacher assignments
  • Not update classroom websites, blogs or newsletters
  • Not submit any long-range or short-range plans, or literacy and numeracy block plans
  • Not update Individual Education Plans (IEPs) after the 30th day of school deadline
  • Not participate in any in-school meetings or professional learning activities on PA days, opting instead to use the time for their own professional development within the classroom
  • Not prepare report card comments or complete or package progress reports, though they will provide administrators with a hard copy list of learning skills and work habits ratings
  • Not conduct parent interview related to the progress report cards, unless there are concerns identified by the teacher about a child's progress
  • Not act as division chairs or team leads

Teachers will take part in "Wynne Wednesdays" once a week, and will:

  • Refrain from any activities that take them away from their classrooms
  • Demonstrate union solidarity by wearing ETFO buttons, caps or T-shirts, or a union colour
  • Send messages to the Minister of Education or the Ontario Public School Board Association (OPSBA) about the importance of "fair and reasonable collective bargaining"
  • Engage in planned lobbying activities including pickets, rallies and letter-writing campaigns.

The ETFO bulletin also outlined the union's "Phase 4" plans for October, when all ETFO teachers and occasional teachers could begin rotating strikes, "if sufficient progress has not occurred."

The bulletin said further details would be released later.