Conciliation fails, ETFO York Region Teacher Local receives no board report

TORONTO, Nov. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - ETFO York Region Teacher Local has received a no board report through the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour to resolve its bargaining impasse with York Region District School Board.  As a result, the local's members will be in a legal strike position on November 19^th.

Local bargaining stalled following the passage in September of Bill 115, which has imposed drastic cuts to ETFO members' collective agreements and attacks their democratic rights.

"Bill 115 was absolutely unnecessary," said ETFO President Sam Hammond. "It has slowed progress in local bargaining to a virtual standstill and created an increasingly unsettled climate in the education sector."

In September and early October, strike votes took place in ETFO locals throughout the province, including in ETFO York Region Teacher Local. A record number of ETFO members participated in those votes and delivered an overwhelming mandate for strike action.  The Ontario Labour Relations Act requires that a strike mandate must be obtained, a no board report must be received, and 16 days must pass following the receipt of the no board report before legal strike action can occur.

"The Premier in his recent statements to the media now admits his culpability for creating this situation," said David Clegg, President of the ETFO York Region Teacher Local.  "Bill 115 attacks teachers' fundamental rights as citizens of Ontario. York Region elementary teachers have provided a 98% strike mandate to defend those rights."

"Dalton McGuinty and every Liberal who voted for Bill 115 bear full responsibility for the impending job action in York Region," affirmed Clegg. 

Fast Facts: 

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is the professional and protective organization representing over 76,000 teachers, occasional teachers, and education professionals employed in the public elementary schools of Ontario.

ETFO York Region Teacher Local represents over 5,000 ETFO members who are employed by York Region District School Board.  

Collective agreements for all ETFO locals expired on August 31, 2012.  Since then, ETFO members have been working without collective agreements in place.   

 

SOURCE: Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario

Lisa Mastrobuono, Collective Bargaining Communications - Cell: 416-200-3674