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`Cookie cutter' approach won't work says ETFO boss by Tim Whitnell Metroland West Media 7 | Thursday, September 17, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) says it is rejecting what it believes is the Liberal government's "cookiecutter approach" to a contract agreement, saying the government and the Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA) need to return to the bargaining table. "Premier (Kathleen) Wynne wants to impose another union's deal on ETFO. She wants to impose a quick deal, not a reasonable deal, for elementary teachers, to help Mr. Trudeau's chances in the federal election," ETFO President Sam Hammond alleged in a Sept. 14 press statement. Provincial negotiators and OPSBA recently reached separate tentative contract agreements with both the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA). However, neither deal has been ratified by those teacher groups. The tentative three-year deals reportedly include a small wage increase, an extra professional development day and retain current class sizes and teacher preparation time provisions. ETFO remains without a tentative deal. It represents 78,000 elementary public school teachers and occasional teachers across the province. All Ontario teachers and school support staff have been without a contract since Aug. 31, 2014. Last Friday (Sept. 11), the Liberal government and OPSBA walked away from the central bargaining table, said ETFO. Ontario Education Minister Liz Sandals said Monday that the Province is ready to get back to bargaining. "If the union is prepared to discuss how to make the current offer and framework work, we are ready to continue discussion on that ETFO is not prepared to accept a flawed deal that does not address our members' needs and the needs of public elementary students in the long term, just to increase the Liberal Party's chances in October's federal election. Sam Hammond ETFO president basis," she said. "We offered a complete settlement package, which includes a number of things the ETFO explicitly asked for... We're certainly willing to discuss where it needs to be a little bit different (from the other deals)," the education minster added. Premier Wynne was more direct in her assessment of the impasse. ".... The onus is going to be on ETFO and on the leadership of ETFO to explain why (those tentative deals)... are not good enough for their membership," she said. Hammond explained his union's position. "ETFO is not prepared to accept a flawed deal that does not address our members' needs and the needs of public elementary students in the long term, just to increase the Liberal Party's chances in October's federal election," said Hammond. "A student who is six years old has different educational needs than a student who is 16. Anyone with children knows that's true. As a result, elementary teachers' working needs will be different than secondary teachers', so the imposition of a cookie-cutter deal just won't work." OPSBA, which is bargaining with various school staff unions along with provincial government negotiators at central bargaining tables, has posted statements about the state of bargaining on its website. see Local on p.25 OUR SPECIALTY COFFEES Monday to Sunday 7AM to 3PM 146 Lakeshore Rd.W. · Oakville · 905.338.6333 Upon presentation of this original coupon get a 50% discount on a specialty coffee. Choice of cappuccino, espresso, mochaccino or «café au lait». Not valid in conjunction with any other offer. One coupon per client, per visit.Valid from Monday to Friday at Ben & Florentine Oakville. Expiration : October 1st, 2015 50%