MOE's PDT Deadline + OSSTF + ETFO's Response!

[New links added August 2nd. See below.]

Surely this blog's title must provide an all time record of sorts for acronyms! So far most of my recent PDT coverage has focused on our OECTA PDT deal, most recently with the Catholic Principals and Trustees
response. Today's will provide links and some discussion about the continuing hard line struggle of our colleagues at OSSTF and ETFO.

As you should know the Ontario MOE [Ministry of Education] has gone public with it's demands that the teacher unions reach PDT [Provincial Discussion Table] agreements before school resumes in September. Now it seems that the school boards must also reach contracts with the unions based upon the PDT terms by then, and not by December 31, as has been previously outlined in the Ministry perimeters.

The MOE's expressed concern now is that current contracts will simply "roll over" and continue at an unacceptable cost if new contracts are not reached by August 31, when they expire. They also are responding to upcoming ETFO and ETFO strike votes, claiming they will disrupt classes come September. The main focus of the MOE's accusations seems to be that the unions are not bargaining in good faith. OSSTF and ETFO are adamantly disputing the Ministry claims, and have since issued strong statements explaining why, the links for which are provided below;


Here's a link to the MOE's July 30 press announcement that there will be no "rollover" of existing contracts after August 31 when our current contracts ones expire. If PDT agreements are not reached by then, they will be legislated, seemingly as per the MOE's initial terms: http://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2012/07/ontario-reaches-another-education-deal.html

Here''s an audio link to Education Minister Laurel Broten's CBC Q+A:
http://www.cbc.ca/ontariotoday/


Here's a good summary link for OSSTF [Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation] President Ken Coran's response to the announcement: http://www.osstf.on.ca/Default.aspx?DN=eeaf6754-ca4a-4a51-939b-5fce46ac9d8c

Also see: http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/-1685734.htm

Here's another for ETFO [Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario] Sam Hammond's response; http://www.controlyourfuture.ca/

Here's Premier McGuinty's latest August 2nd claim he will recall the legislature this month before school starts if necessary: http://www.cp24.com/news/mcguinty-won-t-rule-out-recalling-legislature-this-month-to-impose-new-teachers-contracts-1.901469

Some further considerations:

Compare the TDSB [Toronto District School Board] trustee response with their Catholic counterparts as discussed in my last PDT blog. Alas, in our case, I still don't feel the love, there is just so much else at play. Here is the TDSB trustees response. To me it seems more positive towards the teacher unions in general: http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/video/217453

By the way, here is OSSTF President Coran's response to the article on the Catholic trustees in the Toronto Star: http://www.osstf.on.ca/Default.aspx?DN=eeaf6754-ca4a-4a51-939b-5fce46ac9d8c

Meanwhile back in Tim's sTory Land:

Here are "the facts" from Conservative Leader Tim Hudak's website showing how the Liberals are are actually giving a $7000 pay raise with the OECTA PDT Agreement, something he would never do, by golly, because it's going to drive the province to financial ruin. Read and weep at his stupidity. Then consider what he would do if the government falls and he is elected to reign in the unions, as promised. Sarcastic I know, but we HAVE been there before. See:
http://www.ontariopc.com/media/2012/08/OECTA-Technical-Backgrounder.pdf

UAW [United Auto Workers] square off with Hudak's Tory plans to "modernize Ontario's outdated labour laws" by "Modifying Rand" as a part of his "Path to Prosperity: Flexible Labour Markets" policy paper. OFL [Ontario Federation of Labour] President Sid Ryan responds: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/07/27/43146/ 

And in other news:

Here's a popular opinion piece from the Kitchener Record that's making the cyber-rounds: http://www.therecord.com/mobile/opinion/article/771794--liberals-failure-puts-pressure-on-school-boards#.UBk9ZScbVp

Here's an unverified Twitter link for educators opposed to the MOE's PDT demands: 
Teachers Unite!@Teachers_Gather.

A salute to you our brothers and sisters at OSSTF and ETFO ! I haven't any special expertise on your affairs, and make no such claims. However I do know that many of our OECTA teachers are NOT happy with what's happened at our end. They want more info on what's still happening on the front lines. If this blog helps our other affiliate readers in any way also, while we are all off doing summer things, I am honoured.

Special thanks to the Twitter Tweets and TSU Rep Angela Tersigni's excellent local JCM [James Cardinal McGuigan CSS] member updates for many of these links while I have been away. Yes, I am back from Mexico after a full day mostly spent in airports before and after the relatively short flight. Yesterdays storm certainly seemed to create havoc at Toronto's Pearson Airport!

By the way Angie, how about a summer guest blog?!? :-)

I will return over the next few days to edit and add to this blog, but wanted to get these links to you asap.

Be sure you are "in the know" for when we go back to school in September!!! Stay tuned!