Opening Statement



Tuesday 4 September 2012

Welcome Back: Teacher News Links Sept 4 to 6th!

See By-Election Results as they come in at: http://electionnightresults.elections.on.ca/rr/welcome.jsp

[Last Updated news links + info added Sept 6, 9:45]

Welcome back!

Busy! Busy! Busy! Back to school means back to our routines! I survived day one, and if you are reading this, well then, you must have too! I will be regularly adding news links to articles and original documents etc. etc. etc. about our teacher struggle here in Ontario Canada throughout next week as I also tend to my classes .Keep checking in!!! 

For those of you who may have just gotten back, and haven't had time to check your mail, here is a link to the OECTA PDT MOU [Memo of Understanding]: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/incoming/read-the-agreement-between-ontario-and-the-catholic-teachers/article4393004/

Here is a convenient comparison chart of the terms: http://www.elemdp.com/files/QA_DealJuly6[1]

The OECTA Q+Ahttp://www.elemdp.com/files/QA_DealJuly6[1](1).pdf

Only OECTA, AEFO and the EA's have signed an MOU on behalf of the province's teachers. The Liberal Government is currently planning to legislate our MOU into law for the others. You will read many different views and news stories on this below. Here is what the MOE [ Ministry of Education] is claiming about Bill 115: The Putting Students first Act":
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/nr/12.08/bg0827.html

Here is Education Minister Laurel Broten's statement: http://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2012/08/statement-by-education-minister-laurel-broten-on-the-proposed-putting-students-first-act.html?utm_source=ondemand&utm

Please see my July 14th Blog OECTA Study PDT and previous summer blogs for more information My Blog Archive is located below this main column.

September 6th

The top two staff concerns with the OECTA MOU at my own school in Toronto are:
1] sick days/ gratuities + the 2] ratification process. There are ALOT of very upset teachers!

Stay tuned for election results in K-W and Vaughan tonite when they become availalble. News links and commentary will follow. Latest polling showed NDP win in K-W, Lib in Vaughan. McGuinty is allegedly heading for the election celebrations in Vaughan.

In the News:

Vote today! How to quickly find out where to vote if you live in K-W or Vaughan: http://faq.elections.on.ca/faq/performsearch.do?type1QuestionId=1

TVO's Steven Paiken on Projecting Ontario Politics into this fall and the post Drummond era:
http://ww3.tvo.org/video/181434/projecting-ontario-politics

National Post columnist Scott Stinson confused by conflicting polls in K-W. Speculates outcome still uncertain: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/09/06/do-mcguinty-liberals-deserve-a-majority-byelections-could-decide/

OFL [Ontario Federation of Labour] President Sid Ryan claims anti union rhetoric will cost the Cons and Libs the by election in K-W: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/09/06/do-mcguinty-liberals-deserve-a-majority-byelections-could-decide/

People for Education presentation to legislation committee on Bill 115. See: http://www.peopleforeducation.ca/pfe-news/people-for-educations-presentation-to-the-legislative-committee-on-bill-115/

See the ETFO presentation here: http://www.etfo.ca/Publications/BriefstoGovernmentAgencies/Documents/bill_115.pdf

Succinct ETFO fact sheet on Bill 115 concerns. Also includes easy to use letter writing kit and riding locator on line, so you conveniently contact your MPP with your thoughts on Bill 115. See: http://www.etfo.ca/WelcomeBack/pages/default.aspx#bill

It's Dilovely blogger makes direct teacher pitch for our profession in plain talk that's easy to understand and empathize with, while also tackling some pretty big issues. Nice! See: http://itsdilovely.com/2012/09/03/greedy-lazy-teachers/


September 5th

NDP surges in K-W/ Libs in Vaughan in by-election polls on eve of vote: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/09/03/labour-day/

Con loss could mean party knives out for Hudak. He makes light of latest K-W poll: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1251586--hudak-shrugs-off-poll-suggesting-tories-will-squander-kitchener-waterloo-in-by-election

McGuinty notes teacher salaries have risen 25% since 2003. Requests pause in wage increases in light of recession: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1250767--mcguinty-pleads-with-teachers-to-accept-pause-in-pay-hike

Latest Liberal campaign flyer on teachers in K-W: http://yfrog.com/j2t4ogwj

Dufferin Peel Catholic Elementary votes 91.8% in favour of strike action in response to board "conciliation". [Also see my Background OCSTA COCP blog from last week!] Orangeville Banner reports: http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1496489--catholic-teachers-support-strike-action

OSSTF Communications/ Political Action Department succinctly summarize their main points on  Ministry of Ed and teacher conflict: http://rabble.ca/news/2012/09/mcguinty-and-hudak-put-all-workers-rights-are-risk

People for Education denounce Bill 115 vote at Queen's Park Sept.10 as too soon: http://www.peopleforeducation.ca/pfe-news/not-enough-consultation-on-new-education-bill/

OSSTF provides Stop the Bill writer kit to help teachers protest to your local MPP. OECTA?!? Por que no? See: http://www.osstf.on.ca/stop-bill-115

Latest ETFO TV ad. My same concerns as before. Teacher talk and emphasis on contracts verses something that would evoke general public empathy. Dalton broken promises theme has been used by Tories for ten years now. Hypocrite is almost a ten dollar word. I'm confused! I saw a great ad on t.v. featuring a teacher student reunion. Evoked fond memories of favourite teachers who made a difference in life. Now there's a real choke-me- upper. ETFO too!? Two fisted right + left punch would make good sense. Will show when I find link. Meanwhile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS91Q51Y84c&feature=player_detailpage

Walkom Toronto Star piece provides overview of Ontario concerns outside Toronto. We often ignore these here in the city, seems Dalton does too. Yes! There is this whole big province just beyond the outskirts of Toronto! See: http://bing.search.sympatico.ca/?q=toronto%20star&mkt=en-ca&setLang=en-CA

New OTF President will lead us into next pension talks: http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1029883/teacher-from-thunder-bay-new-otf-president

Scuttlebutt: McGuinty will be at by-election celebrations in Vaughan tomorrow, not K-W. Hmm......?

September 4th

In The News: September 4th:

Welcome back to school from the MOE ]Ministry of Education]: http://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2012/09/strong-start-for-students-heading-to-school.html?utm_source=ondemand&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=o

Welcome back to school from ETFOhttp://www.controlyourfuture.ca/wp-content/uploads/WelcomeBackAd.jpg

Toronto Star K-W By Election article on candidates and issues gives recent polling results by Forum Research for the riding as: Cons: 34% Libs 30% NDP 30% , same as last weeks Nano`s Poll. Yikes! A vote split with the Conservatives going down the middle? We'll see. Meantime go to:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/with-by-elections-ontario-liberals-race-to-retake-majority/article4517155/

NDP Federal Leader Mulcair + Provincial Leader Horwath speak at K-W on Labour Day: http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/792139--mulcair-denounces-right-leaning-mcguinty-at-k-w-rally

Windsor Essex Catholic secondary unit President Brian Hogan denounces Lib's teacher attacks in Windsor: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/09/03/labour-day/

An advance poll indicator of voter turn out on Sept. 6 by elections. Read the tea leafs: http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1029943/first-estimate-of-advance-voter-turnout-for-the-provincial-by-elections-in-kitchener-waterloo-and-vaughan

Teacher Affiliates all assure parents there are no feared school disruptions on first day of classes in Windsor. Look MOE! No job actions or strike! :http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/09/03/school/

Possible ETFO, OSSTF + CUPE job actions this fall? See: http://www.labour-reporter.com/articleview/13779-ontario-secondary-school-teachers-could-threaten-volunteer-work

Hmmm. Alfred E. Newman "mad" McGuinty blocks him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/notsobigkahuna/status/243071997825921024/photo/1

No joke: Some schools are starting late in the morning in belief students will arrive on time if they can sleep in late. Great way to prepare for the workplace, eh? How about they just go to bed earlier? Is somebody actually getting paid to think these things up? Can I get a job there?!? Can I sleep in late before going to work in their office? What next?!? See: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/09/03/school/

More below! More to come!



                          Team TSU with family and friends at this years labour Day Parade!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the updates/info. I think you're nitpicking in criticizing ETFO's tv spot. At least they didn't throw their teachers under the bus like OECTA did to us. Teachers in my school are NOT pleased with OECTA and the silence from St. Clair St. on down continues to deafen. Unbelievable, really. Do they think this will all just 'blow over' with the membership? No disrespect to you, David, but people see the insipid mailings and 'position pieces' that you're constantly linking from OECTA as nothing more than smokescreen for the shameful actions of our leaders this summer past.

Kulture Kult Ink said...

I was opposed to the deal since before COP when our TSU executive met with our president, and I spoke out accordingly. Contract stripping is just plain wrong, regardless of whatever else one might argue. I hope I have been pretty clear about my concerns with the deal since then. However, I do post links to all different views so the reader can think for themselves about this, more meaningful and effective I think, even for the reason you've given. If it is a smokescreen, then I would like our teachers to be able to see through it in an informed way. Do the OECTA materials make sense? Why or why not? I don't want to be pedantic. I regret if I have offended with my criticism of the ETFO ads, that was never intended. I appreciate your input, comments and readership. Please keep following. There is a lot more ahead. In solidarity!

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