ETFO Rainy River Locals To Stage One-day Strike On Monday December 17

TORONTO, Dec. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - Rainy River public elementary teachers, occasional teachers, and education support personnel (ESPs) will stage a one-day strike this Monday December 17^th 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."

"Bill 115 has set such rigid parameters that we're taking a pause to tell the minister that her misguided approach is not working," said Trevor Bowles, president of the Rainy River Teacher Local. "By removing local autonomy, the education minister has left us no option but to take strike action to try and get this situation resolved."

"All educators are appalled that this government could take away their democratic rights by passing such a regressive law. We are asking for repeal of Bill 115," said Jackie Dupuis-Brandli, president of the Rainy River Education Support Personnel Local.

The locals moved into a legal strike position on November 22, 2012. They received no board reports through the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour to resolve their bargaining impasse with Rainy River District School Board.  During a vote on September 12, 2012, the 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 Rainy River Teacher Local represents 130 elementary teachers employed by Rainy River District School Board. The Rainy River Occasional Teacher Local represents 80 Occasional Teachers, and the ESP Local represents 100 ESP members.

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

Trevor Bowles, Rainy River Teacher Local President, 807-274-0354, [email protected]
Mickey Christiansen, Occasional Teacher Local President, 807-274-9123, [email protected]
Jacki Dupuis-Brandli, ESP Local President, 807-275-8364, [email protected]