ETFO Lakehead locals to stage one-day strike on Wednesday December 12

TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - ETFO Lakehead teachers and occasional teachers will stage a one-day strike this Wednesday December 12^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."

"It is unfortunate that we have not reached an agreement with our board but we are certainly intent on that goal," said Ellen Chambers, President of Lakehead Teacher Local. "Because of the imposition of Bill 115's very limiting parameters, we've been left with no option but to send the minister a message through strike action."

"We are not taking this decision lightly. We cannot stand by and allow this government to take away the democratic rights of our members through such draconian legislation," added Nancy Nix, President of Lakehead 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 Lakehead District School Board.  During a vote on October 1, 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 Lakehead Teacher Local represents 366 elementary teachers employed by Lakehead District School Board. Lakehead Occasional Teacher Local represents 153 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

Ellen Chambers, Lakehead Teacher Local President, 807-629-1839, [email protected]
Nancy Nix, Lakehead Occasional Teacher Local President, 807-472-4208, [email protected]