ETFO Thames Valley Teachers and Occasional Teachers begin work-to-rule today

TORONTO, Dec. 3, 2012 /CNW/ - ETFO Thames Valley Teacher Local and ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teacher Local have received no board reports through the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour to resolve their bargaining impasse with Thames Valley District School Board.  As a result, the two locals have begun work-to-rule as of December 3, 2012.

Local bargaining stalled following the passage in September of Bill 115, which has imposed drastic cuts to ETFO members' collective agreements and attacks their democratic rights.

"To ensure labour peace, school boards must have the flexibility to respond to local needs in order to reach collective agreements," said Sam Hammond, President of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario.  "This strike action is a direct result of Bill 115 and the actions of the education minister."

"Because of the restrictive parameters of Bill 115 for bargaining, there has been absolutely no room to come to an agreement in our local negotiations," said Phillip Mack, President of ETFO Thames Valley Teacher Local. "Job action is now the only viable option to achieve fair settlements."

"Our members are very demoralized given that their democratic rights to collectively bargain have been abolished by this government," added Terry Card, President of the Thames Valley Occasional Teacher Local.

During a vote on October 1, 2012, both locals received overwhelming mandates for strike action from their members. The Ontario Labour Relations Act requires that a strike mandate and a no board report must be received, and 16 days must pass following the receipt of the no board report, before legal strike action can occur.

Fast Facts: 

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (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 Thames Valley Local represents 3,126 elementary teachers employed by Thames Valley District
School Board.   ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teacher Local represents 936 Occasional Teachers
employed by the Board.
 
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

Valerie Dugale, ETFO Media Relations - Cell: 416-948-0195 
[email protected]