ETFO Hastings-Prince Edward locals to stage one-day strike on Wednesday December 12

TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - ETFO Hastings-Prince Edward teachers and occasional teachers will stage a one-day strike this Wednesday December 12^th to send the government a message that Bill 115 is severely impeding local collective bargaining.

"There are two solutions to the chaos that the minister of education has created," said Sam Hammond, President of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario. "Along with repealing Bill 115, the minister needs to step aside and give locals the latitude to have concrete and respectful discussions with all options on the table, in order to reach collective agreements."

"It is regrettable that the minister has forced us into strike action," said Karen Fisk, President of the Hastings-Prince Edward Teacher Local. "The government needs to rethink the path it has chosen and lift the restrictions it has placed on local bargaining."

"Our members will not be intimidated by an education minister who has willfully stripped them of their democratic rights," added Karen Chow, President of the Hastings-Prince Edward Occasional Teacher Local.

Both locals are moving into a legal strike position on December 10. They received no board reports through the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour to resolve their bargaining impasse with the Hastings-Prince Edward District School Board.  During a vote on September 24, 2012, both locals received overwhelming mandates for strike action from their members. 

Fast Facts:

ETFO is the professional and protective organization representing over 76,000 teachers, occasional teachers, and education professionals employed in the public elementary schools of Ontario.

ETFO Hastings-Prince Edward Teacher Local represents 659 elementary teachers employed by Hastings-Prince Edward District School Board. Hastings-Prince Edward Occasional Teacher Local represents 179 Occasional Teachers.

Collective agreements for all ETFO locals expired on August 31, 2012.  Since then, ETFO members have been working without collective agreements in place.   

 

SOURCE: Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario

Karen Fisk, Hastings-Prince Edward Teacher Local President, 613-968-3707 x228, [email protected]
Karen Chow, Hastings-Prince Edward Occasional Teacher Local President, 613-438-6878 [email protected]