'All that bargaining locally was a huge waste'

As parents of Algoma District School Board schoolchildren now know, classes are indeed being held today at Algoma District School Board (ADSB) elementary schools.

Province-wide, teachers with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) had planned a one-day walkout today in defiance of the Ontario government’s imposition of Bill 115 on January 3.

The legislation stops teachers’ right to strike, involves a wage freeze and affects some teachers’ benefits.

However, in the wee hours this morning, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) ruled that the planned walkout would be considered illegal.

As a result, ETFO officials instructed their members to abide by the ruling. 

ADSB elementary schools are open today, and the teachers on the job.

Illegal strike activity could have resulted in fines up to $2,000 per person and up to $25,000 for a union.

Local ETFO President Kelly Holley, in reaction to this morning’s ruling, told SooToday.com: “We were hoping for a different outcome, but we completely respect the decision made by the OLRB. We comply with its orders.”

The OLRB ruling has also forced the Ontario Seconday School Teachers' Federation to ditch its plans for a walkout of its own on January 16.

Despite statements from ETFO President Sam Hammond complying with the ruling, Holley told us: “He (Hammond) did indicate that it’s certainly not over for us. Our provincial executive will determine next steps over the next couple of days. We certainly still feel strongly that contracts should not have been imposed on teachers.”

Holley said she does not yet know what ETFO’s next steps would be, but maintained: “We certainly are continuing to proceed with the Charter challenge.”

ETFO teachers have claimed that Bill 115’s wage freeze is not the sticking point in this dispute, but insist the legislation’s stopping teachers’ right to strike is unconstitutional.

“Something that people need to realize is that we did engage in very productive talks with the Algoma District School Board about non-monetary issues and all of that is now out the window. All that bargaining locally was a huge waste,” Holley added.

As for disgruntled parents, who awoke this morning to find schools were open and classes to be held after all?

Holley said she realizes the frustration and confusion felt by parents this morning, but insisted “the fault lies with the Minister of Education (Laurel Broten) and the Liberal government.”

“Teachers wanted to be in their classrooms today and didn’t want this disruption in the first place, but the Minister made decisions along the way (to impose Bill 115 January 3) and created the chaos,” she said.

A statement issued this morning by Minister Broten regarding the Ontario Labour Relations Board ruling follows.

***************************
Statement by Minister Broten on OLRB ruling

In response to the threat of an illegal strike by the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, our government took quick and immediate action to file an application Wednesday night with the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

I was very pleased that the Ontario Public School Boards' Association representing the public school boards in the province supported the government's application.

The Ontario Labour Relations Board has just handed down its decision ordering the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario to cease and desist from encouraging or threatening illegal strike activity.

This is a very important ruling for parents, students and teachers.

We expect teachers to be in their classrooms this morning to continue the important work they do every day.

We have a ruling that confirms that the action counselled by ETFO was in fact illegal, as we have said it was all along.

Now teachers understand from the Ontario Labour Relations Board that what they were being asked to do by their union was to break the law.

Teachers are law abiding and now that they know the facts, I know that they will report to work this morning.

I know this has been a difficult time for parents, students and teachers.

I know there has been confusion and that there still is.

But the OLRB's decision clears up some of that confusion and misinformation.

We have been working to provide boards with as much information as possible and asked them to keep schools open where possible.

This morning, the Deputy Minister shared the OLRB ruling with boards to indicate to them that we hope schools will be open today.

The number one priority and responsibility of boards is the safety of their students.

Because of the uncertainty and confusion caused by ETFO asking their members to go out on an illegal strike and the lateness of the hour, some boards have made the decision to keep schools closed.

Many boards are treating this as a reverse snow day - they are sharing information with their community, through media, through social media to let them know that schools are open and that teachers should show up for work, and students to class.

Thank you to school boards for keeping your school community updated.

***************************