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Lt Wg sal TL IL Teng at ERT 2 Ip ETSI. - "WEEKEND STAR" w Union action nixes summer school By Rik Davie The Star Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) Local 13 president Shelly Page says her mem- bers are willing to share the.blame for the absence of summer school classes in Durham Region's public high schools this year. :. . The Durham District School Board announced this week that due to a lack of teaching staff, the board will cancel its secondary summer school program this year. The board is telling students and parents 'seeking summer school programs to apply through guidance counselors to the Durham Catholic District School Board for programs at their schools. Norm Powers, Superintendent for Operations with the Durham board, said this week that labour strife with the OSSTF is behind the decision. "Unfortunately, the OSSTF pink slip letter has been effective in deterring secondary school teachers from delivering summer school this year," Mr. Powers said. The so-called pink slip letter warns teachers accept- ing teaching positions in the region or local teachers applying for summer school positions they will face ret- ribution from their union. | Ms Page said the move is not a new tactic, and said the action to target summer school should have been anticipated by the board. When asked about Mr. Powers' statement, Ms Page said, "yes, that statement sounds pretty accurate to me." Ms Page said the pink slip letter, enacted several ~months ago, is a reaction to the failure of talks with the FREE ERC board to lead to a new contract for secondary teachers. "We remain the lowest paid (in Ontario); we remain without an agreement," she Page said. "We will take responsibility for this (action), while reminding the public that it takes two sides to negotiate the contract that would see an end to this," Ms Page said. "We accept our responsibility for this, and the board should accept theirs." She said the action on summer school is being taken to expedite the negotiation process, whith is stalled. "We are trying to put pressure on the board for a set- Hemgnt." Ms Page said. "This is a legitimate bargaining tool." MPPs for the Durham area released a joint statement in which they slammed the OSSTF for the cancellation of summer school programs. SL "We are disappointed that boards have to take these steps because of OSSTF actions that are denying stu- dents a chance to get help with the new curriculum," said Janet Ecker, Education Minister and representative for Uxbridge. : Ms Page said she hopes that planned talks between her union and the board will bring about a settlement. "Our teachers are worth more than to be the lowest paid in the province," Ms Page said. "That is the bottom line the board must deal with and recognize." Teacher actions have intensified the problem of hir- ing new teachers for the fall and have led to nearly four years of reduced extra-curricular activities ih Durham . secondary schools. FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2001 Charity run arrives Cr RL a i) ; WR 5 v Remember = ad gets the ~ Yigger slice! RIK DAVIE/THE STAR This weekend marks the annual Ride For Sight run, which sees motorcyclists saddling up for a day of riding, to raise funds for The Foundation Fighting Blindness. Locally, riders will assemble at the Fox and Fiddle pub in Uxbridge tomorrow morning, and make a run to Collingwood. The popular event is an annual attraction for riders, such as The Star's own Ginni Todd. We've moved . across the street to 20 Bascom Street Fame, eg HOBA Lawyer andy Hoban, Jodi Colby and Nancy "Hill have moved to bigger quarters at 20 Bascom Street. Joining us will be Sally Morgan. We will continue to offer services in Real Estate, Wills, Power of Attorney. Estates and Commercial Law. Dennis Lenzin, has made the move too, and will be available Thursday evenings to handle Criminal Law matters. Phone: 905-852-3900 Fax: 905-852-3666 Lan AV 28 V1 BY By N) LIE WU ont i 2 Sh Fag + il ow Scans CAN en LA --