Let teachers teach! AEFO withdraws from the provincial bargaining table for Franco-Ontarian teachers

OTTAWA, May 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Following two more days of unsuccessful talks with Government and French-language school board representatives, the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO) has withdrawn from the provincial bargaining table for Franco-Ontarian teachers.

″In spite of AEFO's best efforts to cooperate with the Government and the school boards, dialogue has been one-sided since the talks began last February″, says AEFO President, Benoit Mercier.

″Our teachers are ready and willing to do their share in order to alleviate Ontario's fiscal challenge, but the government wants to make blind cuts to the collective agreements and to teachers' working conditions. For their part, the school boards have been seeking cutbacks even in areas which have no budgetary impact″, says Mr. Mercier.

AEFO's proposals at the provincial bargaining table included a two-year wage freeze as well as other cost-saving measures.  ″However, the Government seems bent on implementing all of its 2012 Budget parameters and has not welcomed any suggestions that would simply allow teachers to do their job″, says Mr. Mercier.

All teacher collective agreements will expire on August 31, 2012. AEFO will undertake negotiations with each of the twelve French-language school boards, in accordance with the Ontario Labour Relations Act.

AEFO represents 10,000 teachers and education workers in Ontario's French-language elementary and secondary schools, both Catholic and public, and workers in other French-language establishments.

Comments:
Benoit Mercier, President 
[phone]
[phone] (cellular)

Information:
Marie-Élisabeth Brunet, Communications Director
[phone]
(613)  850-6410 (cellular)