ETFO Keewatin-Patricia locals to stage one-day strike on Tuesday December 11

TORONTO, Dec. 8, 2012 /CNW/ - ETFO Keewatin-Patricia teachers and occasional teachers will stage a one-day strike this Tuesday December 11^th to send the government a message that Bill 115 is severely impeding local collective bargaining.

"There are two solutions to the chaos that the Minister of Education has created," said Sam Hammond, President of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario. "Along with repealing Bill 115, the Minister needs to step aside and give locals the latitude to have concrete and respectful discussions with all options on the table, in order to reach collective agreements."

"Bill 115's rigid parameters have made local negotiations extremely difficult and our members are very frustrated with this government," said Anne Saltel, President of Keewatin-Patricia Teacher Local. "It is unfortunate that the Minister has forced us into a strike by taking away local autonomy."

"Our members recognize that they need to stand firm and stand up for their democratic rights, regardless of how difficult or inconvenient that may be," added Robert Calder, President of Keewatin-Patricia Occasional Teacher Local.

Both locals will move into a legal strike position on December 10. They received no board reports through the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour to resolve their bargaining impasse with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.  During a vote on September 11, 2012, both locals received overwhelming mandates for strike action from their members. 

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 Keewatin-Patricia Teacher Local represents 231 elementary teachers employed by Keewatin-Patricia District School Board. Keewatin-Patricia Occasional Teacher Local represents 225 Occasional Teachers.

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

Anne Saltel, Keewatin-Patricia Teacher Local President, 807-737-2163, [email protected]
Robert Calder, Keewatin-Patricia Occasional Teacher Local President, 807-548-4260, [email protected]