Elementary school teachers with the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) could be walking off the job to back demands for a new contract.
Doug Cook, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) District 18, which represents the board’s 1,150 teachers, said his members began a withdrawal of services on Monday. The move could be stepped up to rotating strikes if called for by the provincial ETFO.
The local union is in a legal strike position on Dec. 10.
“Every elementary teacher in Upper Grand will be engaged in withdrawal of services,” Cook said. “It will impact the general operation of its (the board’s) schools.”
Cook predicts the withdrawal of services will include extracurricular activities. The provincial union called for strike action after failing to reach contract agreements.
The provincial union, together with other teacher unions, launched a Charter of Rights challenge to the provincial government’s Bill 115, which gives the government power to ban teacher strikes and freeze wages for two years.
The Liberal government has contended measures are needed to curb teacher salary increases in a bid to cut the province’s $15 billion debt. Another contentious issue is the reduction in sick days allowed for teachers from 20 to 10.
Cook said his members agree contract talks should remain between teachers and the board and not involve the government.
“The democratic principle is very important to teachers,” Cook said. He added the union considers a strike legal under the Labour Relations Act.
He was critical of the government’s intervention in the teachers’ “right to negotiate in a free and open environment.” He said teachers are willing to negotiate based on the fiscal restraints the government is facing.
If a walkout is considered, the union will give parents 72 hours notice before action is taken. The decision to walk out will be made by the provincial ETFO union.
No discussions, according to Cook, are taking place locally on specific strike action. But confidential sources have told the Advertiser UGDSB strike action could begin as early as late next week or the week before Christmas.
Cook said reports stating union members who do not participate in strike actions will be fined $500 are a “red herring” initiated by, among others, Education Minister Laurel Broten. The fines are contained in the union’s constitution but never acted upon, he said.
The education minister has indicated the government will order teachers back to work if they walk out based on Bill 115. She has not indicated specific action the government will take.
Cook is also angry over the minister stating any strike action is being orchestrated by union leadership.
“It is clear this is membership driven and when the minister says it’s leadership, that’s wrong,” Cook said.
High schools also affected
Several Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) locals have already indicated they will also be stepping up job action.
However, Paul Rawlinson, president of the OSSTF District 18 teacher bargaining unit, which represents 800 UGDSB high school teachers, said his members will not be taking any strike action after ratifying a new agreement. The vote, held recently, was challenged by some of the members and resulted in the resignation of some union officials.
“It (the challenge) has been followed up by the general secretary at OSSTF who found no discrepancies,” Rawlinson.
“We had a clear majority,” he said of the vote, but declined to disclose how many members voted in favour of the package.
Union officials were discussing action that could be taken, including rallies similar to one held in June outside Guelph Liberal MPP Liz Sandals’ office opposing Bill 115. He said with a provincial election expected next spring, the membership may look at ways of unseating Sandals.
Any OSSTF actions will not impact classroom time, Rawlinson stressed.
“At the end of the day our members will be in the classroom,” he said,
