Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said teachers have to “do their part” as the province tries to rein in spending and protect education. In a YouTube video released Friday, he asked teachers to take a wage freeze and end a “generous” sick-leave plan.

McGuinty wants to ensure class sizes stay at manageable levels and the full-day kindergarten plan comes to fruition in 2014, but said he needs teachers' help to do it.

“We’re asking teachers for a real, two-year wage freeze,” McGuinty said in the video. “We’re asking for an end to a generous sick-leave plan that allows some teachers to get paid upon retirement for 200 unused sick days.

“Balancing the budget means making choices. Our government’s choice is to protect the classroom.”




Teachers’ contracts expire Aug. 31. The government only wants a two-year deal.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario has called the province’s proposal “offensive” and members walked out of a bargaining meeting on Wednesday.

McGuinty said salaries account for the bulk of education funding and he wants teachers to help in scaling back that spending.

Teachers in Ontario start at $41,766 to $44,292 and can make up to $92,813 in elementary schools and $94,942 in high schools.

A teacher who cashes out 200 sick days upon retirement could get a lump sum payment of as much as $46,000. Education Minister Laurel Broten says that amounts to a $1.7-billion liability as the province struggles to reduce a $16-billion deficit.

McGuinty wants to limit the number of sick days to six and stop teachers from collecting unused days and banking them. Sick days that have already been banked would be protected.

With files from The Canadian Press