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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, August 17, 2012 · 4 Public school board to follow Ministry's lead By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Halton District School Board intends to take the Ministry of Education's bargaining road map to the table when it meets with its unions to negotiate new contracts. However, the board does not expect the new contracts to be signed before the Aug. 31 deadline set out by the ministry. Trustees voted during a special board meeting Tuesday to accept the parameters set out by the ministry. The special meeting was held in response to Education Minister Laurel Broten's recent announcement that school boards must sign new contracts with their teachers by Aug. 31 or face legislation that would force e l p i r t T s * u & g e u l b A u n i o D s y ys a a d D li o d H r s/ a d n ys w e a k e d R Wee Week * ** ** Earn loyalty rewards while enjoying golf at... schools to open in September. The "Moving aggressively and uniminister also called on school boards to use the ministry's memo of under- laterally to force deals on our standing (MOA) with the Ontario unions may very likely lead to English Catholic Teachers' Association job actions such as strikes that (OECTA) as a road map to bargaining will not only be detrimental to with all its unions. the government's goals and The MOA calls for no pay increases over the next two years and no move- would not reflect the best ment on the salary grid, either hori- interests of our students and zontal (through gains in qualifications) communities." or vertical (gains in years of experience). Don Vrooman, chair At the special board meeting, trust- Halton District School Board ees discussed the ministry's announcement and broke into private session to years of experience, receiving annual decide on a stance to take. In the end, raises for approximately their first 10 trustees took the ministry's position for years of employment and for gains in bargaining, while honouring its cur- qualifications. "Although negotiations respecting rent contractual agreements. "Positions taken by the Halton the Ontario government's financial District School Board to date reflect constraints will be difficult, we believe a the funding commitments of the resolution can be found within our Ministry of Education in the 2012- timelines," said Don Vrooman, board 2013 Grants for Student Needs," the chair, in a press release issued after the decision reads. "Although our board meeting. "To expect contracts to be settled intends on remaining compliant by the physical requirements set by the locally by August 31 on issues the govOntario government, under section ernment was unable to resolve in five 86(1) of the Labour Relations Act, we months at the Provincial Discussion are prohibited from altering rates of Tables, is unreasonable." Minister Broten said grid movewages or any other term or position of employment now that notice to bar- ment will result in some teachers gain has been given. If the statutory receiving raises of 5.5 per cent. No freeze established by section 86(1) funding was allocated to such raises in remains in force at the commence- the provincial budget, meaning school ment of the coming school year, the boards would have to pay them out of Halton District School Board intends their own pockets. The board's superintendent of busito honour all collective bargaining provisions as it is legally obligated to ness services, Lucy Veerman, told do. We expect that all of our schools trustees the grid movement would cost will be fully operational on the first day the board $750,000 per month. Despite these costs, the board will not speed up of school in September." The current four-year collective its negotiation process. "Moving aggressively and unilateragreements expire Aug. 31. With no new contracts signed, the existing con- ally to force deals on our unions may tract will roll over. Though teachers very likely lead to job actions such as would not receive an annual raise as no strikes that will not only be detrimental fifth year is written in the current con- to the government's goals and would tract, teachers would still be eligible to not reflect the best interests of our students and communities," Vrooman get raises based on grid movement. Teachers move up the grid based on added in the release. PREMIER GOLF FACILITIES FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @KaneffGolfPro some of Southern Ontario's Shop Naked! (If you are so InclIned.) nclIned.) RECYCLE regIster start sh today, o & We'll s pping. hIp It (905) 455-8700 www.KANEFFGOLF.com FREE! THIS NEWSPAPER