TORONTO - Ontario's cash-strapped Liberal government is going after teachers' ability to accumulate sick days in addition to freezing their salaries for two years.
Most teachers in Ontario can bank 20 sick days a year, up to 200 days over their careers, and then get paid a lump sum averaging about $46,000 when they retire.
Education Minister Laurel Broten says accumulated teachers' sick days have left the government with a $1.7-billion liability.
She says that's not sustainable in the long term, so the government wants to limit teachers to six sick days a year and eliminate their ability to accumulate them and be paid out.
Teachers also move up in their pay grid every year for the first 10 years and also when they upgrade their qualifications. The government also wants to freeze all movement within the grid.
The Elementary Teachers' Federation walked out of contract talks Wednesday, but talks continue with all other teachers' unions.
Contracts for teachers and school support staff expire Aug. 31, and the government is seeking only a two-year deal after going for four-year agreements in the last two sets of negotiations.
