OSSTF Votes No!

[Updated Nov 29th]

OSSTF York and Niagara vote no to their MOE approved contract! Upper Grand ratifies it! Democracy in action! See: http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/238218--york-secondary-school-teachers-union-rejects-contract-offer

MOE: "Dear OSSTF! Please drop by so I can strangle you!" ;-)

So far no vote tallies! What are they? I haven't seen them anywhere yet!

Toronto Star reports the Education Ministers response. She hangs hopes on the Upper Grand deal. The school boards respond with disappointment. A report on the foul mood at the OSSTF York meeting where members expressed their resistance to ratifying contracts reached under the terms of Bill 115. Good for you!!!! Now that is being pro-active at the grassroots level. See: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/education/article/1294193--ontario-teacher-protest-york-niagara-teachers-reject-tentative-deals

The Globe and Mail reports on the vote results: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/high-school-teachers-in-york-region-niagara-reject-deals/article5750338/

Ditto the National Post who note McGuinty is "standing firm" with "anti strike legislation". You mean they actually like the guy for a change?!? Maybe they are confusing him with Tim Hudak??? Easy to do these days! Emphasis on ramifications for teacher court case against Bill 115 and with an eye on the OLP race. See: http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/11/28/mcguinty-stands-firm-behind-anti-strike-law-as-ontario-teachers-reject-new-contracts/

You will want to keep any eye on OSSTF's Bargaining Bulletins. A statement has been issued. OSSTF Niagara will resume their job actions, OSSTF Yorks will now commence. No further "interviews" or "comments" are "scheduled". Hmm. Are they shutting down tight like OECTA provincial in damage control mode, or am I reading too much into this?  See:  http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2012/11/27/catholic-board-opposes-deal-with-teachers

OSSTF announces all further contract negotiations are on hold until further notice after last nights vote, and a MOE decision not to approve a number of tentative contracts. Hamilton Wentworth vote will proceed on Friday. All other ratification votes are on hold. All unit presidents to meet on Monday Dec 3 to receive outline for the next step in OSSTF's strategy. See: http://www.osstf.on.ca/MR-Nov-28-2012

Gerard Kennedy says it time to "mend fences" with teachers. Okay what how will you do that Gerard? See: http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/article/1543776--time-for-government-to-mend-fences-with-teachers-kennedy

The OSSTF protest story! I remember proudly my own  active participation in our OECTA fight during 1972, the Rae Days and Harris Year struggles. I only regret we seem to have reached a dead end now, while OSSTF still marches on. Here's a good overview of their story by Rod Albert: http://www.osstfd20.ca/pdfs/The%20Battles,%20The%20Wars%20and%20the%20Victories.pdfhttp://www.osstfd20.ca/pdfs/The%20Battles,%20The%20Wars%20and%20the%20Victories.pdf

Standing tall: The Sarnia Lambton teacher rally!

Now see what OECTA is up against: The St. Clair Catholic board complains to the MOE about its loss of "control" over us as their "employers" under the MOU. Their authority as been apparently "usurped" because OCSTA [the Catholic trustees association] walked out of the PDT talks on July 4th insisting upon a whole list of ridiculous strictly self serving demands. Now they have to also consider an OT's years of experience if they'd rather just hire somebody fresh out of teacher colleges who has "special qualifications" and "new ways of teaching". They note experienced teachers haven't had the "opportunities" to get these qualifications. So they just want to dump them or keep them on the OT list for life?  What b.s!!!. Ever heard of staff development?!?  This is exactly why some OECTA members are more interested in provincial collective bargaining rather than have to locally bargain one on one with our knucklehead local school boards unit by unit everytime our contract expires. See: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2012/11/27/catholic-board-opposes-deal-with-teachers

A new Task Force has been set up by OECTA COP to bring forward late resolutions to our Spring AGM regarding policies and procedures for dealing with future PDT. Sudbury elementary president Kent MacNeil has been elected to the task force. More on this later!

An special COP session has been called for tomorrow. Hmmmm. I see none of this on our OECTA Provincial site. Guess its all top secret eh? Who are we but the members? Hang on a second, I'm TSU 3rd VP and I don't know either?!? Ho boy. More details forthcoming.

Commentary

Gee I wonder why OECTA Provincial really insisted on ratifying the MOU rather than letting our membership do so eh? It would've been in keeping with the spirit of the law as per our policy that we don't, up until now anyway, support provincial bargaining. Perhaps last nights OSSTF vote says a lot!!! Bet OECTA didn't want to risk the same thing happening! Fancy procedural footwork within the existing by-laws that were out of step with the MOE PDT demands might've met the letter of the law under the vagaries of our OECTA Handbook.  They provided a handy excuse for not allowing a democratic membership discussion and vote. Now we hear these policies and rules can be changed at Spring AGM?  Isn't that like closing the door after the horse escapes?!? Are supposed to feel all warm and reassured??? How convenient!

My regular updated news links continue on the Rob Ford blog etcetra below....