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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, September 13, 2012 · 4 Teachers forced into protest actions: union Continued from page 1 Provincial government power to impose contracts on teachers and ban strikes for at least two years. The legislation was a move by the Liberal government to reduce the Province's $14.8 billion deficit. The Progressive Conservatives also voted in favour of the bill. In response, the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has asked its 76,000 members (elementary teachers and educational professionals) across Ontario to consider cancelling voluntary activities -- this includes approximately 2,600 members in Halton. "Given this extraordinary and unwarranted legislation, we are advising our members to `take a pause' on the voluntary activities they undertake in schools," stated Sam Hammond, ETFO president, in a news release. "While they will remain focused on teaching students and ensuring student safety, teachers and other educational professionals will need to consider very carefully what they can afford to do outside of their instructional responsibilities," stated Hammond. However, ETFO Halton president Marg Macfarlane said this protest may not mean the end of sports teams or after school clubs. "Sam Hammond has asked people -- starting now -- to consider the voluntary extra-curricular activities that they are involved in," she said. "He's not calling for a boycott at all. He's not saying `Don't do anything.' He's saying that you need to think long and hard about the voluntary activities you're going to do in the coming year." She said a teacher's priority is instruction and student safety. Teachers also need to have a balance between their work and home life, without feeling pressured into participating in extra-curricular activities. "Those who feel they are able to and want to continue to do extracurricular activities may do so," Macfarlane said. "Some may have already started things, they want to finish them, but he's asking them to think very carefully about what they'll do the rest of the year and to not feel that they have to do these things." The `take a pause' action is still in its early days so it's not known at this time what programs are being affected "We see this as undemocratic. Teachers are growing more frustrated with what's happened. We've been forced into this protest." Brad Fisher, president, Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, Halton locally, Macfarlane said. In addition to urging its members to take a break from extracurricular activities, the ETFO is introducing what it calls `McGuinty Mondays.' Teachers will be urged not to participate in school-based or board level meetings and not to participate in Ministry of Education meetings on Mondays for the foreseeable future. The ETFO has said its action is the initial step in an escalating protest strategy. "We do not take this action lightly. Ontarians, and the government, need to know that you cannot take away the democratic rights of working people simply to fulfill a political party's agenda or ideology," Hammond stated. "Collective bargaining rights are central to ensuring that working people are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness in the workplace. If the Premier can get away with abolishing our rights, we need to ask `Who's next?'" Several unions have also threatened to challenge the legislation in court, including the OSSTF, ETFO and the Canadian Union of Public Employees in Ontario, which represents education support workers. The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA), Francophone teachers (Association des enseignantes et des enseignants frano-ontariens) and another small unions accepted a wage-freeze deal weeks ago. That deal also cut teacher sick days in half to 10 per year, took away the ability of teachers to bank sick days and take cash for them upon retiring, and imposed three unpaid days off. That agreement allows new teachers to move up the salary grid as they gain experience; however, the raises come partway through the school year. While the teacher protests are taking place, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has urged educators to continue providing extra-curricular activities. He spoke with reporters yesterday (Wednesday) morning in Toronto, reminding teachers their outrage is with the Liberal government and not students. "Teachers can do whatever they want, of course, at election time. What I'm saying is let's save it for election time," he said. Fisher said teachers were forced into the protest by the government action. "We see this as undemocratic. Teachers are growing more frustrated with what's happened," the Halton district OSSTF president said. "We've been forced into this protest." He also stressed the job action is not against school boards, which have been co-operative in terms of contract negotiations, including locally in Halton. The protest, he said, is against the government. -- with files from Torstar News Service YOUR KEY TO RETIREMENT LIVING Unlock the door to active retirement living at Vistamere, Oakville's premier retirement residence. Beautifully decorated, from the casual elegance of the lounge to our professionally landscaped private courtyard, we've designed Vistamere with a relaxed lifestyle in mind. Spacious studios, one and two bedroom units are available to active seniors who want to make the most of their retirement years. Half of our suites have patio walk-outs, with many opening on to the beautiful gardens in our courtyard. There will always be just one seating for breakfast, lunch and dinner in our tastefully appointed dining room. 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