TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 16, 2012) - "There is no need for conflict when there is a defined process for collective bargaining that has been used successfully in the past. The vast majority of school boards agree. The vast majority of education workers agree," said Ken Coran, President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) at their annual Leadership Conference in Toronto. Coran was addressing over 400 local Federation leaders from across the province. He expressed his frustration with the Ontario Government's recent comments in the media that are misleading the public in order to create a new crisis in education.
"I assure you that OSSTF/FEESO members will be in their schools and with their students on the first day of school and we will continue to provide the best education experience in the world," stated Coran.
Coran speculated that the government is poised to introduce special legislation that will interfere and make a mockery of the established bargaining process. "Legislation is not the answer; it is a catalyst for conflict with the government," said Coran. He challenged the government to step back and allow the Ontario Labour Relations Act processes to proceed. OSSTF/FEESO and the school boards are fully prepared to follow the law. The government should follow the law as well.
At the end of his speech, members joined President Coran in a loud and enthusiastic pledge to stand up, stand strong and stand united in their fight to protect their collective bargaining rights and to protect public education.
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:
Ken Coran
President
416.751.8300 or 1.800.267.7867