MEDIA ADVISORY - Thousands of teachers to protest legislation taking away their rights - this Tuesday at Queen's Park

TORONTO, Aug. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - Thousands of teachers and other education professionals and workers will come together at Queen's Park this Tuesday at noon to protest the Ontario government's legislation that will tear up their collective agreements.

"The teachers of this province have had enough of this government, its manufactured crisis regarding the school year, and its unwarranted legislation that takes away their rights," said Sam Hammond, President of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO). "We teach our students to stand up for their principles; now it's time to stand up for ours."

A majority of the public agree. Over 77% of Ontarians believe the province should negotiate an agreement with teachers rather than use legislation to impose wages and benefits on them, according to an independent poll conducted for ETFO this month.

WHAT:	Rally for Public Education and Democracy
WHEN:	Tuesday August 28, 2012 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm
WHERE:	Queen's Park front lawns

Speakers at the rally will include the presidents of ETFO, OSSTF, and CUPE Ontario.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario represents 76,000 elementary public school teachers and education professionals across the province and is the largest teacher federation in Canada.

 

SOURCE: Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario

For more information, or to arrange on-site interviews with speakers, teachers, and other professional educators, contact: 

Valerie Dugale, ETFO Media Relations. Cell: 416-948-0195
Lisa Mastrobuono, ETFO Collective Bargaining Communications: Cell: 416-200-3674