OSSTF/FEESO President Condemns Proposed Anti-Worker Legislation

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 23, 2012) - "It has become clear that the crisis the Ontario government has created in education is not about putting students first," said Ken Coran, President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO). "It's about bypassing the democratically elected local school board trustees who, as our members' employers, have historically achieved negotiated agreements."

"It's about attacking teachers, support staff, anyone who works in public education. It's an attack on middle class workers who neither caused the economic challenges that the government faces today, nor whom should bear the full burden of fixing the government's deficit."

"It's about political opportunism, a cynical attempt to secure a majority government through two upcoming by-elections on the first week of September," continued Coran.

"By publically focusing their attacks on teachers, the government has neglected to discuss the impact their imposed legislation would have on thousands of frontline support staff workers who provide vital services to our students,"
he said.

"The Ontario government has recklessly scared parents into thinking that there will be disruptions at the beginning of the school year, despite our consistent message that our members will be back in the classroom. There has been no threat of a strike. There are laws governing negotiations; we are following those rules; McGuinty wants to create new rules."

"This legislation is an affront to all workers in Ontario, unionized and non-unionized, private and public sector. The right to negotiate is protected by our laws and, if passed, we will mount a legal challenge to this unprecedented and undemocratic legislation," concluded Coran.

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.