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Today's post on the OSSTF MOE vote comes courtesy of teacher Peter Hasek. If anybody else has a submission, yes, no or maybe please forward it to me, for our readers consideration.
OECTA, CUPE + OSSTF?
Commentary
COMMENT HERE:
Today's post on the OSSTF MOE vote comes courtesy of teacher Peter Hasek. If anybody else has a submission, yes, no or maybe please forward it to me, for our readers consideration.
OECTA, CUPE + OSSTF?
Bear with me while
tell you a story we all know:
In January Bill 115's invocation paints ETFO and OSSTF members into a corner by taking away our right to strike and imposing our contract conditions.
Teachers use other means to show their anger at the MoE and pause on EC's to try to get a return to process and regain respect. The MoE does not like this, and plots to find a way to trick us into thinking we have a contract.
Enter the new star players Kath and Liz.
Kath gets sworn in, and even though she said she was 'against' the use of Bill 115, she will not reopen contracts because there is 'no money.'
Kath and Liz voice at various times that teachers can 'go back to doing what they love' because they are having 'conversations' with their leaders. It doesn't work.
The conversations somehow get re-labelled 'negotiations' as our union leaders are somehow enticed to conspire to paint two labelled doors on the solid brick walls behind us.
The fake door labelled 'no' appears to be just a painting of a door.
The fake door labelled 'yes' has some neat things attached to it including a coupon that says 'Free lifetime supply of paint for the MoE'.
Nobody can deny the yes door seems to have more 'options'.
Some talk about ignoring the doors, but we are still stuck in our corner.
Some advocating for the 'yes' door are saying "Might as well forget what life is like outside of the corner." and, "This isn't the 'worst' corner, we could be painted into a corner with Hudak."
The Justice Seekers (REWT et al) argue that the 'no' door is the only way to get out of this situation. The only problem is they are unsure about the best argument. It is a fake door after all.
So we argue, we waste valuable resources and energy, and regardless of which door we choose we have been tricked. Because...
The budget passes.
No election is called.
Kathleen looks like a hero for education reform in Ontario.
Now if we choose the 'yes' door, the MoE uses this as a precedent (the free lifetime supply of paint) and we are doomed to be painted into corners every two years.
If we choose the 'no' door, we (ETFO and OSSTF) MAY be able to work together to push our way out of the corner, inform public of this injustice and prevent it from happening again.
A chance in hell is better than none.
In January Bill 115's invocation paints ETFO and OSSTF members into a corner by taking away our right to strike and imposing our contract conditions.
Teachers use other means to show their anger at the MoE and pause on EC's to try to get a return to process and regain respect. The MoE does not like this, and plots to find a way to trick us into thinking we have a contract.
Enter the new star players Kath and Liz.
Kath gets sworn in, and even though she said she was 'against' the use of Bill 115, she will not reopen contracts because there is 'no money.'
Kath and Liz voice at various times that teachers can 'go back to doing what they love' because they are having 'conversations' with their leaders. It doesn't work.
The conversations somehow get re-labelled 'negotiations' as our union leaders are somehow enticed to conspire to paint two labelled doors on the solid brick walls behind us.
The fake door labelled 'no' appears to be just a painting of a door.
The fake door labelled 'yes' has some neat things attached to it including a coupon that says 'Free lifetime supply of paint for the MoE'.
Nobody can deny the yes door seems to have more 'options'.
Some talk about ignoring the doors, but we are still stuck in our corner.
Some advocating for the 'yes' door are saying "Might as well forget what life is like outside of the corner." and, "This isn't the 'worst' corner, we could be painted into a corner with Hudak."
The Justice Seekers (REWT et al) argue that the 'no' door is the only way to get out of this situation. The only problem is they are unsure about the best argument. It is a fake door after all.
So we argue, we waste valuable resources and energy, and regardless of which door we choose we have been tricked. Because...
The budget passes.
No election is called.
Kathleen looks like a hero for education reform in Ontario.
Now if we choose the 'yes' door, the MoE uses this as a precedent (the free lifetime supply of paint) and we are doomed to be painted into corners every two years.
If we choose the 'no' door, we (ETFO and OSSTF) MAY be able to work together to push our way out of the corner, inform public of this injustice and prevent it from happening again.
A chance in hell is better than none.
Commentary
IMHO the Wynne Liberals need an agreement as much as the teachers do, possibly even moreso, if they are still hoping for any teacher support in the next election. As Peter suggests, why paint yourself into a corner now?
REWT: The latest flyer @ 8 Reasons to Vote No:
Download this REWT flyer @ Post + Share!
REWT: The latest flyer @ 8 Reasons to Vote No:
Download this REWT flyer @ Post + Share!
COMMENT HERE:
6 comments:
What I don't understand is why you had to be teaching for 10 years for the sick day gratuity? Why don't they just grandfather it and everyone get paid out at the same rate? Anyone have an answer for this?
VOTE NO - win at court - renew 08-12 contract via free and fair collective bargaining - even if "there is no money" and the bargaining will be difficult - any short cut where our rights are trampled is unacceptable. Some might say this could take years, to which I reply if the delay respects our right to free collective bargaining it is well worth it ....
depends on where you work - some, like those of us on the grid in the tdsb, have this gratuity grandfathered; our days are considered vested, evn though we have less than 10 yrs. check with you local union office.
I like Peter's commentary. Vote "NO."
WORST CASE SCENARIO - A HIGH "YES" VOTE. Beyond other implications for organized labour, this will not let us bargain from a position of strength come 2014. I don't know how the vote will turn out but the feedback I'm getting from people is that a majority of OSSTF members are getting tired of this fight and it will pass. Remember, this is a dissident blog for the most. Osstf members please communicate to your colleagues that a high yes vote could be disastrous. I will be voting NO!
It is very significant that at the OTPP meeting on Thurs night experts from nurse's unions were guest speakers ----not experts from teachers' unions. This omission told me that our provincial union leaders especially OECTA, are not regarded as trustworthy when addressing our pension matters. Remember the dodos had our pension on the table in the last round of "bargaining". Our penision is not a bargaining item!
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