A spokesperson for the Minister of Education confirms to Newstalk 1010 that all contracts imposed on teachers and other school workers may be reopened if both sides involved agree. 

In a written statement sent out Monday night, Education Minister Laurel Broten responded to the Toronto District School Board’s claims that its hands have been tied because of Bill 115 and has slammed the door on the board’s opportunity to find savings in its contract with the Maintenance and Construction Skilled Trades Council.  That is the same union linked to pricey projects at the TDSB such as the $143 charged for installing a pencil sharpener, and $3000 for an electrical outlet. 

In a written statement responding to the board’s chair Chris Bolton, Education Minister Laurel Broten said “This agreement has no bearing on the board’s ability to control spending or to work with the union to manage the cost of maintenance and repairs. Changes to collective agreements would not address many of the identified issues. However, under the Putting Students First Act, local agreements can be reopened by mutual consent of the parties to address local issues.”

When the Minister’s office was asked to clarify these “local issues”, spokesperson Paris Meilleur wrote back: “Under the Putting Students First Act, nothing around the key fiscal parameters can be re-negotiated – so nothing around sick days, sick leave plan, pay, pay grid, etc. But everything else would be considered local.”

Meilleur added that when it comes to teachers this would involve issues like “supervision”. 

Meanwhile it’s not yet clear if the Toronto District School Board will attempt to reopen negotiations with the Maintenance and Skilled Trades Council to work out an amended deal.