ETFO Halton locals to stage one-day strike on Wednesday December 19

TORONTO, Dec. 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Halton public elementary teachers, occasional teachers, and designated early childhood educators (DECEs) will stage a one-day strike this Wednesday December 19 to continue sending the government a message that Bill 115 is severely impeding local collective bargaining.

"To date, the education minister has yet to do anything to assist local school boards in pursuing fair and respectful negotiations with our members," said Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO). "She can end the chaos she has created by repealing Bill 115 and letting local bargaining proceed without interference."

"The education minister has placed severe restrictions on local talks by wielding the excessive and unnecessary powers of Bill 115," said Marg Macfarlane, president of the Halton Teacher Local. "She needs to rethink her approach so that our board and local can get on with finding solutions that are fair and respectful."

"How can this minister and government abide by the chaos created by a law that has no place in a modern democracy?" added Al Bero, president of the Halton Occasional Teacher Local.

"While a strike is difficult and inconvenient for everyone, our members are standing up for the democratic rights of educators and all working Ontarians," said Amy Rasmussen, president of the Halton DECE local.

During a vote on October 2, 2012, the locals received overwhelming mandates for strike action from their members. The locals moved into a legal strike position on December 13, 2012. Prior to that, they received no board reports through the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour to resolve their bargaining impasse with Halton District School Board.

Fast Facts:
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 Halton Teacher Local represents 2,594 elementary teachers employed by Halton District School
Board. The Halton Occasional Teacher Local represents 697 Occasional Teachers, and the Halton
DECE Local represents 136 DECEs.

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

Marg Macfarlane, Halton Teacher Local, 905-332-1633, [email protected]
Al Bero, Halton Occasional Teacher Local, 905-332-6840, [email protected]
Amy Rasmussen, Halton DECE Local, 905-691-5071, [email protected]