“Our Union believes in the power and voice of its members,” EFTO leader speaks out about strike mandate

BY PAUL JUNOR

There has been media attention directed on one of the largest teachers’ unions in Ontario after its members voted largely to strike as the results of the strike vote. Information was released on Wednesday, October 18^th, 2023.

The 3,500-strong Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) education workers have been actively bargaining with the Ontario government over the summer to hammer out a deal. Early childhood educators, education support personnel and professional support personnel are part of ETFO, along with 80,000 public elementary teachers and occasional teachers. After refusing binding arbitration and conducting a strike vote, it was announced on Monday, October 23^rd, 2023, that its members voted overwhelmingly to ratify the central agreement.

It was on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023, that EFTO issued a media release indicating that 95% of its teachers and occasional teacher members voted in favour of central strike action.

Karen Brown, President of EFTO states, “This strong strike mandate sends a very clear message to the government. Our members have been working for over a year without a contract, and their patience has run out. We need the government to stop stalling and start negotiating seriously on our members’ key priorities like providing more support for students with special needs, acknowledging the staffing crisis in education, putting a fair compensation offer on the table, and addressing violence in schools.”

The press release reminds individuals that this does not mean that ETFO will be participating in work-to-rule action or heading to picket lines at this time. Negotiations were still in progress at ETFO’s Teacher/Occasional Teacher Central Table. President Brown noted further, “With the assistance of the conciliatory appointed by the Ministry of Labour, we continue to work diligently to reach an agreement that is fair for our teachers and occasional teacher members. We remain focused on getting government cuts off the table and on getting the improvements ETFO members and students need and deserve.”

The press release announced by ETFO reveals a statement by President Karen Brown that supports the vote. She states, “Our union believes in the power and voice of its members ,which is why we worked to bring a tentative agreement forward that our education worker members could vote on, and they did just that, demonstrating their support for a four-year central agreement that addresses many of their key bargaining goals, including: salary increases, maintaining funding for current benefits levels, paid professional learning, job security, and a Supports for Students Fund that special education runs in our schools.

 In addition, the agreement includes a mechanism to ensure members receive a Bill 124 financial remedy. While these negotiations were prolonged and difficult, ETFO stood firmly refusing to accept contract strips, and will continue to do the same as we negotiate a central agreement for ETFO’s 80,000 teachers and occasional teacher members.”

There was a double majority ratification vote process involved in ensuring that the central agreement was possible. Local bargaining will go into effect to ensure that ETFO is able to work with three different school boards across Ontario to negotiate local collective agreements.