ETFO Superior-Greenstone locals to stage one-day strike on Thursday December 20

TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - Superior-Greenstone public elementary teachers and occasional teachers will stage a one-day strike this Thursday December 20 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."

"Because this minister has stubbornly refused to let our board and local find fair and respectful solutions that work for our schools, we're forced to take strike action," said Colleen Lemieux, president of Superior-Greenstone Teacher Local. "She can't shut down the democratic right to bargain collectively and expect us to remain silent."

"Bill 115 is a big stick that has taken away the democratic rights of the education sector. Our members are taking a stand so that this doesn't happen to others in Ontario," said Artie Cooper, president of Superior-Greenstone Occasional Teacher Local.

During a vote on September 20, 2012, the locals received overwhelming mandates for strike action from their members. The locals moved into a legal strike position on December 10, 2012. Prior to that, they received no board reports through the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour to resolve their bargaining impasse with Superior-Greenstone 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 Superior-Greenstone Teacher Local represents 76 elementary teachers employed by Superior-Greenstone District School Board. The Superior-Greenstone Occasional Teacher Local represents 82 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

Colleen Lemieux, Superior-Greenstone Teacher Local, 807-854-6889, [email protected]
Artie Cooper, Superior-Greenstone Occasional Teacher Local, 1-807-229-1406, [email protected]