Our strike vote at the John Labatt Centre/Budweiser Gardens was a resounding success. Occasional Teachers listened to presentations made by our Provincial President Sam Hammond, and others before voting 94% in support of strike action. We must acknowledge that these decisions are never easy. We cannot forget that it is through the courageous actions of those who made such decisions before us, that we can all enjoy the working conditions enshrined in our respective Collective Agreements.
Before the mid 1970’s, mass resignation was the only form of job action available to Teachers. Can you imagine how tough a decision that was? To resign when you had a young family to support or the debt of a mortgage on your shoulders or when you were putting your retirement in jeopardy? But those Teachers stood strong. In 1973, eighty thousand steadfast Teachers protested with a one day walk-out against the government. Thirty thousand of them marched on Queen’s Park. They did this to win for all Teachers, the right to strike. Not just for that day, or just for that round of bargaining, but for ever more.
It’s apparent how Long-Term Occasional Teachers are affected by Bill 115 - the government put its hand in our bank of sick leave, and took out all but 10 days. It ordered Boards to disregard all additional qualifications or teaching experience which could move LTOs up the grid. Not only did the government freeze our wages, but it legislated 3 unpaid PA days – giving us less than a 0% increase and in effect asking Employees to cover the losses of the Employer. Given the blatant misuse of our tax dollars – more than a billion dollars wasted on E-Health, millions more frittered away through the mismanagement of ORNGE, and the GTA power generating plants fiasco, does anyone have faith the Liberals can do more good with these projected savings, than you and I could if we had the money still in our pockets to spend?
But this legislation also negatively impacts our daily Occasional Teachers. One large OT Local has already reported a loss of a thousand days in the first 9 days of September. This mirrors what our members are saying about the availability of work and it was inevitable. Teachers are reporting to work sick and with broken bones, fearful of using their precious sick days this early in the school year. Occasional Teachers are the most financially vulnerable sector in education. Can this really be happening to our profession?
Our fight this round is not with the Board but with the high-handed actions of the government who imposed on us, Bill 115. Every worker in education, from those at the Ed Centre to our invaluable custodians, is in the same boat. This round, Principals, who have always been represented at our local bargaining tables, were snubbed by the government’s provincial team. This round, Trustees, duly elected to make such decision had no input. And you’re already aware how the voices of the Federations were time and again, disregarded. Occasional Teachers must not feel recrimination for taking a stand. If you experience problems, as always call the OT Office and let us deal with them. We need you to follow the lead set by the permanent Teachers of our schools, for those are your colleagues and these decisions will impact your future in this profession.
All that we have gained over the years is now being threatened and it’s a race to the bottom for the middle class. With notices of pending cuts across the entire public sector, other Unions are looking to us to take the lead and protect their rights as well.
Our President, Sam Hammond ends every email with a line from Martin Luther King Jr - "There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor political, but because one's conscience tells one that it's right..."
It may not be easy, but as Teachers who are called on every day to set an example for the students in our classrooms, this is just such a time.
Yours in solidarity,
Terry Card, Local President
