[My Ontario Teacher + Union Acronym Guide list is @ Dictionary ]
Dear Readers!
Here is the first draft of the petition Pamela forwarded to my site. Many of you are still using it so I am restoring it to below the final petition, that now appears above, and is the one appearing on the change.org website, for your convenience. Cheers!
To sign the Free Richard Brock Petition click HERE!
UPDATE: It is my understanding that your comments are instantly forwarded to OECTA Provincial when you sign the petition. Can you imagine the impact of them getting hundreds of these a day?!? Again, I urge you to share my link. Also, on the Change.org Guide Page it is explained how you can get your message to the media, and how to organize a "Phone Call a Day Campaign" through the site! All this and more @ Change.org Guide Page
More Petition Info Below:
We have a guest blog and petition being posted today as submitted by Pamela Spearns. The petition is very straightforward and anybody at OECTA can sign. OECTA members: It is your union! Be heard! Please sign the petition now!
The reasons for the petition are also clearly summarized on change.org where you can fill it out online and submit it instantly using the link I've provided here for your convenience. It will only take a minute of your time. You can also explain why this petition is important to you in the space provided! I myself noted it is important that OECTA demonstrate it's integrity and credibility by reinstating local Halton Elementary Richard Brock now! I'm sure you can choose your own words too.
We need as many members as possible to sign this petition in for it to have any impact before the November 6 OECTA COP [Council of Presidents] meeting! Please read, and sign!
SIGN HERE @ Free Richard Petition! Here is the text of the petition. Pamela's OECTA + Democracy blog follows afterwards:
Petition To Reinstate Richard Brock As President Of The Halton Elementary Unit.
Whether
one supports or opposes OECTA’s MoU, one cannot deny that it has brought
terrible dissension in its wake. This rancour and division has led directly to
the removal of Richard Brock from office through procedures and processes that
were unfair from start to finish. Below you can find a point form brief summary
of the case.
A
petition is one of the increasingly limited democratic ways we can make member
wishes known to Provincial OECTA. It is our hope that teachers will
embrace this opportunity to voice their dissatisfaction at the terrible injustice
that has been inflicted upon our brother union member.
I
strongly urge all members to sign M2's petition and let OECTA
Provincial know that we all want OECTA to be a union that is a democracy, and a
democracy that safeguards the interests and rights of all its members,
including the rights of President Richard Brock, as it is mandated to do.
Summary
of the case of President Richard Brock
As
president of Halton Elementary he tried to defend his members and their death
gratuity against the one size fits all brush of provincial bargaining enshrined
in the MoU.
He was
removed from office by an appointed discipline panel that was
improperly constituted.
He has had
all of his OECTA rights and privileges removed, yet he must still pay OECTA
dues.The discipline panel that heard the case refused to disclose their guidelines or manual to the defence.
The
discipline panel refused to hear any of witnesses that Mr. Brock had available
at the hearing. They were locked in a room and kept incommunicado.
He
was charged with “not promoting the interests of the Association” through his
opposition to appending the MoU to the local contract, yet the OECTA publicly
agreed with TSU and other units not to append the MoU.
The
Provincial Executive never warned Mr. Brock that he was “not promoting the
interests of the Association”; thus, he was charged and sentenced without
receiving any cautions (contrary to the standards we demand of our employers).
President
Brock was not allowed to have legal counsel although his (25 year)
lawfully elected position was at stake.
The
discipline board handed down a guilty verdict and imposed a punishment that is
wildly disproportionate to the alleged offence
How
you can help.We want to collect as many signatures on the petition as possible of people who like rule of law and due process in unions.
The petition at change.org reads:
In
response to OECTA’s wrongful dismissal of President Richard Brock of Halton,
We, the undersigned Members of the Association, demand that President
James Ryan and the Provincial Executive:
1. Restore Richard Brock as Halton Elementary Unit President, acknowledging that his “trial” lacked fairness, transparency, and due process; that the discipline board lacked the authority to try him; that our Association does not perpetuate, but instead fights, unfairness and inequality; that the moral responsibility to right injustices committed in the name of our Association rests with the Association.
2.
Undertake to govern our Association in accordance with the constitution of our
Association, denying a rogue secretariat any opportunity to commandeer the
discipline process without the sanction of the Provincial Executive.
Promote democracy, member rights and rule of law within OECTA.
3.
Respect the right to free speech of all members, protecting that right when any
member voices their concerns about the direction of the Association.
4.
Commit publicly and unreservedly to treat all members fairly and with due
process, undertaking a disciplinary process that exhibits transparency and
impartiality; that embodies fairness and justice and that clearly demonstrates
compliance with Canadian law.
WE,
the undersigned, petition the Executive of OECTA as follows:
Restore
Richard Brock to his rightful legally elected position as President of Halton
Elementary unit and cleanse all OECTA operations so that they comply with our
Letters Patent, Handbook/Constitution and the Law of the Land.
In a
nutshell;
In
the rush to discipline Richard, due process was not followed. If the discipline
committee was not properly constituted, it does not exist. Therefore their
decision does not exist.
Don't forget: Please sign the Free Richard Brock Petition by clicking HERE!
[ed] Pamela's blog on "OECTA and Democracy" follows below:
7 comments:
We need a live link to the petition.
Some dastardly individual released this petition to the blog before the OECTA justice committee had finished watering it down (editing it). Of all the dispicable deeds! Shades of Snowden!
The live link is highlighted in large blue type set. I have included it twice now, at the top and further down the page. I have removed the petition graphics as they were probably causing some confusion. Hope this helps!
I've commented on the different petition drafts below under the next blog. Let's keep moving forward, the momentum over the past week has been great. Also keep the guest blogs coming, but see my notes there regarding submissions and scheduling.
Cheers/ Solidarity!
David C
" I WILL CHOOSE FREE WILL"....RUSH.
FREE RICHARD!
"Richard's no hoser, eh!"
-DOUG and BOB MacKensie
Canada is a democracy.
Removing a democratically elected Unit President is wrong and goes against the wishes of the Halton OECTA members who voted for him.
Also, a Discipline Board/Panel with no appeals process to its decisions is dangerous in our union and our country.
Add to that the fact OECTA imposed the worst contract ever on members with the MOU and then took away each member's right to vote on it before it was binding, and OECTA members need to ask, "How many more times is Provincial going to show me my vote doesn't matter to them?"
Sign the Petition to FREE RICHARD and FREE OECTA MEMBERS from the last two years of destructive Provincial leadership.
Post a Comment