In response to some of the questions we have fielded thus far:
- When will we receive our Pocket Calendars? Answer: The pocket calendars will be mailed by months' end to all members.
- How and when will I receive additional information regarding Professional Development, up to date bargaining developments etc? Answer: Look for mailings which will include the September edition of our newsletter "The Supply Line". Later editions will be posted electronically so visit our website at www.etfotvots.com and follow us on Twitter @etfotvot.
- Who do I notify of a change in personal information? Answer: Please advise our office in writing of the change via email at etfotvot@gmail.com or by mail to: ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teachers' Local, 521 Nottinghill Road, Suite 8, London, ON, N6K 4L4.
- It is important that you also notify the following:
- College of Teachers
- the Board (via the Employee Portal under your Personal Information),
- your Apply to Education Account.
Bill 115, Putting Students First Act, 2012 - Introduced August 27, 2012
The government says the legislation is necessary to avoid teacher strikes and prevent salary increases among teachers who have earned additional qualifications and for younger teachers due scheduled salary gains that reflect their classroom experience. The government said it was moving to prevent strikes weeks or months before such action was even legally a possibility. The government moved to push the bill through the Legislature despite the fact that the affected unions had initiated bargaining with their respective employing school boards and almost every ETFO President witnessed this betrayal from the Queen's Park Gallery when Minister Broten introduced the legislation in Queen's Park.
Bill 115 gives the government unprecedented powers over school board negotiations with no accountability through legislative debate and it:
- imposes the terms and conditions of an agreement reached between the Ontario government and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), with a couple of important exceptions that favour the employer.
- means 60% of teachers will receive a pay cut; and 40% of teachers, mostly younger ones, will receive only 50% of their scheduled increases for experience and additional qualifications earned through taking university degrees, courses, and other professional development they pay for themselves.
- cuts the number of sick days by 50% and discontinues the accumulation of unused days which will have a negative impact on the amount of work available for Occasional Teachers
singles out one sector – education – for wage restraint.- by-passes the legal bargaining regime by imposing contract provisions.
- suspends the normal, legal framework for negotiating contacts with school boards.
- introduces extraordinary legislative measures to prevent legal challenges to the bill.
- sets a dangerous precedent for other unionized employees in particular and democratic principles in general.
- gives Cabinet rather than the Legislature the right to restrict strikes and lockouts.
- gives Cabinet the power to extend the provisions of the bill beyond two years without having the issue debated in the Legislature.
- gives the Minister of Education unlimited and unprecedented powers to approve or change any contract negotiated between school boards and the affected unions.
- gives the Minister of Education authority over collective agreements that are governed by labour legislation under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Labour.
What Can I Do?Email your MPP to say that you oppose this legislation, that you support the right of workers to bargain collectively as the law allows.
