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

TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - ETFO Trillium Lakelands teachers and occasional teachers 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, in order to reach collective agreements."

"If the minister was serious about resolving issues with teachers, she would lift Bill 115's limiting parameters that are impeding local bargaining," said Steve Colliver, President of the Trillium Lakelands Teacher Local. "We're interested in reaching a fair local agreement, not playing political games."

"It is regrettable that we have been forced into strike action by a government that has no respect for the democratic rights of my members," added Tracy Blodgett, President of the Trillium Lakelands Occasional Teacher Local.

Both locals moved into a legal strike position on November 26, 2012. They received no board reports through the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour to resolve their bargaining impasse with the Trillium Lakelands 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 Trillium Lakelands Teacher Local represents 739 elementary teachers employed by Trillium Lakelands District School Board. Trillium Lakelands Occasional Teacher Local represents 369 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

Steve Colliver, Trillium Lakelands Teacher Local President, 705-340-1753, [email protected]

Tracy Blodgett, Trillium Lakelands Occasional Teacher Local President, 705-571-1404, [email protected]