TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 9, 2013) - Today, OSSTF/FEESO local Bargaining Unit Presidents attended an all-day meeting in Toronto to discuss the actions that OSSTF/FEESO members will take to protest the government's imposition of working conditions and the loss of the democratic right to freely bargain collective agreements with employers.
Ken Coran, President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation said that "It is regrettable that the provincial government has chosen to continue down this path and not respect the rights of education workers."
"OSSTF/FEESO members have told their local and provincial leadership that should the Minister of Education impose working conditions on them, removing their ability to have the union engage in free collective bargaining on their behalf, that they would refuse to engage in voluntary and extracurricular activities. They further voted in favour of a day of action in protest."
Coran explained that a decision was made by OSSTF/FEESO's bargaining unit leaders at today's meeting to:
| a) | support the withholding of voluntary and extracurricular activities |
| b) | schedule a day of political protest for Wednesday, January 16, 2013, to be held if the government has not repealed Bill 115, rescinded the Order in Council that imposed the OECTA MoU and restored free collective bargaining by that date. The political protest will be held locally and will include picketing at Liberal and Tory MPP offices where possible or at local school board offices. |
| c) | replace participation in voluntary or extra-curricular activities, by engaging in a public education campaign highlighting the loss of the right to free collective bargaining and the loss of democracy and its implications for all Ontarians. |
| d) | reconvene a meeting of local Bargaining Unit Presidents to discuss next steps after the Ontario Liberal Leadership Convention or earlier, if government actions warrant it. |
"OSSTF/FEESO is willing to meet with the Minister of Education at any time to discuss the reinstatement of collective bargaining rights or to meet with the new Premier to discuss any changes in approach to bargaining should the current minister be unwilling," emphasized Coran.
President Coran concluded that "The Premier's statements late this afternoon finally acknowledge that the Ontario Labour Relations Board and the Ontario Labour Relations Act are the appropriate avenues for dealing with labour disputes and collective bargaining issues. We hope his government will follow this up with the appropriate meetings to resolve the current labour situation."
OSSTF/FEESO, founded in 1919, has 60,000 members across Ontario. They include public high school teachers, occasional teachers, educational assistants, continuing education teachers and instructors, early childhood educators, psychologists, secretaries, speech-language pathologists, social workers, plant support personnel, university support staff, and many others in education.
Contact Information:
Lori Foote
Associate General Secretary
Office 416.751.8300 or 1.800.267.7867
Cell 647.393.9149
www.osstf.on.ca