Sam Hammond Re-elected President of Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario

TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - Sam Hammond, who led the fight against Ontario's Bill 115 with 76,000 members of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), was re-elected president of the Federation at its Annual Meeting today. He has served as ETFO president since 2009.

"ETFO and its members have demonstrated time and time again that they are leaders when it comes to high quality public education, advocating for equity and social justice, and standing up for labour rights in Ontario," Hammond told 800 delegates to the meeting.

"We took a very principled stand against Bill 115 to protect the fundamental rights of all working people, and students who will enter the workforce one day. As president, I look forward to ensuring ETFO's leadership in championing public education and democratic rights as we head into the next round of collective bargaining and a possible provincial election."

"In the year ahead, we will maintain our national leadership in professional development, providing curriculum resources, workshops, and conferences to foster teaching excellence that has made Ontario's education system one of the best in the world. ETFO will also continue to pursue our equity and social justice mandate to ensure schools and communities foster equality and inclusion, particularly when it comes to Aboriginal, racial, ability/disability, gender, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues both at home and abroad."

"Each of our members has a deep commitment to providing the best learning environment possible for all students. It is those values that will guide the Federation's work over the next two years," added Hammond.

Hammond, who served as an ETFO vice-president from 2004-2007 and as first vice-president from 2007 to 2009, was elected to the provincial Executive in 2003. He has been a teacher in Hamilton-Wentworth for 25 years and has taught physical education and health from Junior Kindergarten to grade 8. He served the Hamilton-Wentworth ETFO Teacher Local as chief negotiator and grievance officer for five years.

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

Valerie Dugale:
[phone] (cell); [email protected]

Izida Zorde:
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Mary Morison:
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August 12-15
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