Labour turmoil eased, but not gone, as Ontario schoolkids return to class

As Ontario schoolchildren flock back to classes this week, contract talks will continue today between the province and the union representing elementary school teachers.

And until a new deal is reached, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario says its members won't plan fundraising activities or field trips or attend open houses after school hours in the next step of a work-to-rule campaign that began in the spring.

• Elementary teachers resume talks with province
• 5 things to know about the Ontario teachers' disputes
• No class disruptions as Ont. elementary teachers talks go on, province says

Negotiations also continue with Ontario's Francophone teachers and support workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The union has said those workers will stage their own work-to-rule campaign until they get a new agreement.

The previous school year ended with the possibility of all major teachers' unions being on some form of strike this fall, but agreements were recently forged with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation and the Ontario's English Catholic Teachers Association.

But even as labour peace appears to be taking hold, tensions remain over a new sex-education curriculum being implemented this year, with some parents saying the lessons will force children to make sexual decisions before they are capable.

Some parents have threatened to pull their kids from school over the curriculum, but Education Minister Liz Sandals has staunchly defended the program, saying it gives kids information that can help keep them safe and healthy.