ETFO Upper Grand locals to stage one-day strike on Friday December 14

TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - ETFO Upper Grand teachers and occasional teachers will stage a one-day strike this Friday December 14^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."

"Because of the impositions of Bill 115, our whole democratic process of collective bargaining is being undermined," said Doug Cook, President of Upper Grand Teacher Local. "This minister needs to rethink her whole approach to the education sector because she is causing nothing but chaos."

"Not only has the government taken away local autonomy, it has forced us into strike action to send a strong message to the minister that she is on the wrong track," added Andrew Aloe, President of the Upper Grand Occasional Teacher Local.

Both 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 Upper Grand District School Board.  During a vote on October 3, 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 Upper Grand Teacher Local represents 1,287 elementary teachers employed by Upper Grand District School Board. The Upper Grand Occasional Teacher Local represents 486 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

Doug Cook, Upper Grand Teacher Local President, 519-837-0090, [email protected]
Andrew Aloe, Upper Grand Occasional Teacher Local President, 519-217-2704, [email protected]