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HDSB to follow ministry's lead in dealing with teachers' unions ment now that notice to bargain has been given. If the statutory freeze established by section 86(1) remains in force at the comThe Halton District School Board in- mencement of the coming school year, tends to take the Ministry of Education's the (HDSB) intends to honour all collecbargaining roadmap to the table when it tive bargaining provisions as it is legally meets with its unions to negotiate new obligated to do. We expect that all of our contracts. schools will be fully operational on the first However, the board does not day of school in September." expect the new contracts to be The current four-year consigned before the Aug. 31 deadtractss expire Aug. 31. With line set out by the ministry. no new contracts signed, the Trustees voted during a speexisting contract will roll over. cial board meeting Tuesday Though teachers would not (Aug. 7) to accept the paramreceive an annual raise as no eters set out by the ministry. fifth year is written in the curThe special meeting was held rent contract, teachers would in response to Education Minstill be eligible to get raises ister Laurel Broten's recent based on grid movement. announcement that school Teachers move up the grid boards must sign new conbased on years of experience, DON tracts with their teachers by receiving annual raises for apVROOMAN Aug. 31 or face legislation that proximately their first 10 years would force schools to open of employment and for gains in September. The minister in qualifications. also called on school boards to use the "Although negotiations respecting the ministry's memo of understanding (MOA) Ontario government's financial constraints with the Ontario English Catholic Teach- will be difficult, we believe a resolution ers' Association (OECTA) as a roadmap to can be found within our timelines," said bargaining with all its unions. Don Vrooman, board chair, in a press reThe MOA calls for no pay increases over lease issued after the meeting. "To expect the next two years and no movement on contracts to be settled locally by August the salary grid, either horizontal (through 31 on issues the government was unable gains in qualifications) or vertical (gains in to resolve in five months at the Provincial years of experience). Discussion Tables, is unreasonable." At the special board meeting, trustees Broten said grid movement will result discussed the ministry's announcement in some teachers receiving raises of 5.5 and broke into private session to decide per cent. No funding was allocated to such on a stance to take. In the end, trustees raises in the provincial budget, meaning took the ministry's position for bargaining, school boards would have to pay them out while honouring its current contractual of their own pockets. agreements. The board's superintendent of busi"Positions taken by the Halton District ness services, Lucy Veerman, sad the grid School Board to date reflect the funding movement would cost the board $750,000 commitments of the Ministry of Educa- per month. Despite these costs, the board tion in the 2012-2013 Grants for Student will not speed up its negotiation process. Needs," the decision reads. "Although "Moving aggressively and unilaterally to our board intends on remaining compli- force deals on our unions may very likely ant by the physical requirements set by lead to job actions such as strikes that the Ontario government, under section will not only be detrimental to the govern86(1) of the Labour Relations Act, we are ment's goals and would not reflect the best prohibited from altering rates of wages interests of our students and communior any other term or position of employ- ties," Vrooman added in the release. By DOMINIK KUREK Metroland Media Group The Truth About Hormone Imbalance BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY: Is it Right For You? Peri-Menopause, Menopause, Thyroid Imbalance, Saliva Testing & HCG Weight Loss 3 ·The IFP· Halton Hills, Thursday, August 16, 2012 Marie, 47, suffered from mood swings, weight gain and low libido... then she did a saliva test... KELLY NOLAN, BSc. Pharm kelly@avitaintegrativehealth.ca $ 25 off Saliva Hormone Test Expires August 23, 2012 BLOGS AND VIDEOS ABOUT LOCAL SHOPPING Visit: haltonhillsshoptalk.com Avita Integrative Health & Restoration Clinic 5A Conestoga Drive, Ste 300, Brampton 905-455-0488 www.avitaintegrativehealth.ca 316 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-873-1818 31 georgetownhonda.ca 905-874-3021 HONDA e-mail: hassellsauto@bellnet.ca www.hassellautomotive.com Warranty Warranty Warranty Warranty 2004 Chrysler PT 2005 Pontiac Montana · Automatic - 6 Cylinder · A/C · AM/FM CD Player $7,400 · Certified & E-Tested · Automatic - 4 Cylinder · A/C CALL $6,800 2007 Pontiac Wave · AM/FM CD Player · A/C · Automatic - 4 Cylinder + HST $8,800 2008 Mazda 3 GT · Cruise Control · Excellent Condition · A/C + HST $11,500 + HST + HST