ETFO Renfrew locals to stage one-day strike on Thursday December 13

TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - ETFO Renfrew Teacher Local, Occasional Teacher Local, Education Support Personnel (ESP) and Professional Support Personnel (PSP) locals will stage a one-day strike this Thursday December 13^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 school boards and ETFO locals the latitude to have concrete and respectful discussions with all options on the table, to reach collective agreements."

"By taking away local autonomy to find solutions, the minister has created total chaos in the education sector." said Allison Ryan, President of ETFO Renfrew Teacher Local. "We're sending the minister a strong message with this action."

"Our members are prepared to do anything they can to stand up for their democratic rights, no matter how difficult or inconvenient," added David Cresswell, President of the Renfrew Occasional Teacher Local.

"The public needs to realize that Bill 115 is draconian legislation that takes away the rights of working people," said Renfrew PSP Local President Joan Bradley.  ESP Local President Colleen Mackin added that "we are hopeful of reaching a settlement but the minister has to rethink her approach to bargaining with the education sector."

All locals moved into a legal strike position on December 3, 2012. They received no board reports through the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour to resolve their bargaining impasse with Renfrew District School Board.  During a vote on September 20, 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 Renfrew Teacher Local represents 364 elementary teachers employed by Renfrew District School Board and the Occasional Teacher Local represents 142 Occasional Teachers. The ESP local represents 130 members, and the PSP local represents 23 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

Allison Ryan, Renfrew Teacher Local President, 613-635-2388, [email protected]
David Cresswell, Renfrew Occasional Teacher Local Pres., 613-638-3291, [email protected]
Joan Bradley, Renfrew PSP Local President, 613-433-9869, [email protected]
Colleen Mackin, Renfrew ESP Local President, 613-433-2108, [email protected]