ETFO contributes additional $500,000 to support British Columbia Teachers' Federation

TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2014 /CNW/ - The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is donating a further $500,000 to the British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) to support B.C. teachers who were recently on strike. ETFO locals across Ontario have contributed an additional $90,000.

"Both ETFO and its locals understand how important it has been for the BCTF and its members to stand up for appropriate funding of public education," said ETFO President Sam Hammond. "The fact that the BC government has refused to respect decisions of the BC Supreme Court regarding teacher contracts for 12 years is untenable."

While the BCTF reached an agreement this week with its provincial government, the lengthy bargaining process and strike this summer has taken its toll on BC teachers and their union.

"BC teachers faced loss of pay and extreme hardship during a prolonged strike to stand up for smaller classes, more specialist teachers to support student learning, and a fair salary. These funds will assist the BCTF to help alleviate this hardship and deal with legal and operating costs incurred because of its stand," added Hammond.

In June, ETFO donated $1 million to the BCTF. As the strike moved into early September, ETFO donated a further $25,000 as part of a joint effort of education affiliates of the Ontario Teachers' Federation.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario represents 76,000 elementary public school teachers and education professionals across the province and is the largest teacher federation in Canada.

SOURCE: Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario

Valerie Dugale, ETFO Media Relations: Cell: 416-948-0195, [email protected], @etfomedia