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Moles Everywhere
Yesterday, the Ontario government announced its plan to introduce legislation to force contracts on the teachers' unions whether they like it or not (hint: they don't). Of course, being a minority government, the Liberals are taking quite a risk that the bill may not pass. There are two bye-elections going on as we speak, and their outcome could possibly give the Ontario Liberals a majority in the house. Needless to say, this fact has not escaped the notice of the teachers' unions, who are pulling out all the stops in an attempt to prevent the Liberals from winning a majority. Here's a recent broadcast e-mail from the Waterloo Region high school teachers' union, one of the ridings where there is a bye-election.
As you have probably heard by now, Education Minister Laurel Broten announced yesterday (Thursday August 16) that the government is threatening to introduce legislation to force the terms of the OECTA deal on all of us. The proposed bill would force a 2 year pay freeze, and a grid freeze (or some grid movement for those still on the grid, paid for by 3 unpaid days off in the second year). It would end the retirement gratuity and the banking of sick leave, and reduce the annual number of sick days to 10. It includes a so-called 'fair hiring practices' section, which will in fact make it more difficult for OT's to get LTO assignments and be eligible to get contract positions. Among the more insidious provisions of the proposal include clauses that would allow the government to extend the terms beyond two years without further legislative action, and a 'no-strike/no-lockout' provision, essentially stripping us of our collective bargaining rights. This attack on free collective bargaining must not be allowed to stand. We will not be intimidated by the desperate bully tactics of this government, as they try to manufacture a crisis where none exists. We will not succumb to the government's 'divide and conquer' strategy; we will remain united. We continue to work in concert with our other education union partners who have not given in to threats. We will continue, as we have always done, to bargain within the provisions of the Ontario Labour Relations Act, and we will work to achieve the best possible collective agreements for our members, as we have always done.
We suspect that a large part of the reason for the current attempt to misrepresent us and appear 'tough on the teacher unions' is the government's desire to win a majority on September 6th. In order to send the government a clear message that their tactics and their proposal are not acceptable, we urge all of our members in Kitchener-Waterloo Riding to get out and vote for NDP Candidate Catherine Fife, and deny the McGuinty government its coveted majority. And, for any of our members, we encourage you to give some of your time in the next 2 weeks to help the campaign. You can contact Catherine Fife's campaign office directly, and volunteer. In the meantime, please be assured that OSSTF is working hard to protect your interests in this difficult time.
Keep Calm, and Carry On.
Rob Gascho
President, T/OT BU, OSSTF D24
If the teachers' unions are successful in determining the outcome of the two Ontario bye-elections, they are effectively running the province.
Teacher unions are no different in Quebec. The Caquistes (under Legault) want to abolish all anglophone schoolboards.The Pequistes (under Marois) want to seperate and/or extend the language provsions of Bill 101 to the CEGEPS effectively denying anglophones education in their own language. The Liberals (under Charest) are a spent force.
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