My Blog Acronym Guide is @ Here!
During the past week we have been treated to a virtual "April shower" of glitches in the old news "Matrix" of the mainstream media. It's also sometimes readily apparent in our teacher and education worker union missives. Little irregularities occur daily, like silences that are almost deafening. Like rips in the news fabric of media lies, revealing fleeting glimpses of the usually inconvenient and forbidden truths that are left out, that we are not told. Suggesting so much more than what we otherwise know about our once robust union movement, and those who govern us in the province of Ontario.
The Supreme Court of Ontario has ruled in favour of CUPE, ETFO and OSSTF; our provinces teacher and education worker unions, in their Bill 115 Charter Challenge! [PDF] The Ontario Liberal government did in fact violate our Charter Rights to fairly negotiate a Collective Agreement by imposing the "Putting Students First Act" aka "The OECTA Road Map" on negotiations during August 2012. [LINK]
The first, most obvious glitch in the Matrix is glaringly obvious! It's hidden in the media's shamelessly muted response in reporting the verdict. Compare that to all of their ferocious, teacher bashing back in 2012-13! Alas! Now that our teacher and education workers' "outrageous" claims of injustice have been confirmed, the news story follow up is mostly conspicuous by it's absence. It's hardly the top mainstream news story of the day! Far from it!
A possibly even bigger news story still lies ahead! Hopefully, it will be one they cannot ignore! CUPE, ETFO and OSSTF have been directed by the judge to reach a "remedy" to the incurred injustices or one will be decided by the court. It will be very interesting to see how much real fight our union leadership still has in them!
Rumours are that at the very least our front line teachers and education workers will want their "sick day plans" restored. Some are even insisting that should just be the starting point. However, others doubt that the "leadership" can even muster enough fight and resolve for that! And so we watch with bated breath for another glitch in the Matrix to tip the hat to their true intent as our often secretive leaders prepare their demands under the blaring glaze of public scrutiny!
The biggest glitch in the Matrix has without doubt been at OECTA Provincial. We still await an official response as I post this blog. The OECTA members have been advised that OECTA's legal team is looking into the matter. The silence speaks louder than words!
OECTA's name is definitely mud for our Ontario union movement! How deep the shit goes still remains hidden under the infamous OECTA Code of Silence! Who knows? Do they have any legal liability for any of their questionable actions during 2012-13 due to the court decision? Will they benefit from the "remedy" too! One highly doubts they will ever be able to wipe the dirty sheets clean again!
Not only did the Ontario Liberals use OECTA's July 2012 MOU as the Road Map for the contract agreements they insisted upon in Bill 115! [LINK] The Catholic teacher affiliate was also not party to the CUPE, ETFO and OSSTF Charter Challenge! [LINK] Bill 115 was even invoked during a December 2012 hearing against OECTA dissident members [LINK], including Halton [LINK] and Sudbury Elementary [LINK] units and the Metro 7 [LINK] in their failed OLRB MOU challenge at the time! [LINK][LINK]
Indeed, disturbing questions continue to swirl around the fate of now, long gone OECTA dissidents such as Halton's controversial President Richard "Bad Boy" Brock [LINK] [LINK]. Later removed from office in his "fight for fair representation" by a controversial, appointed OECTA Disciplinary Committee [LINK], Richard has no doubt been to hell and back a few times. [LINK] Are he and his passionate arguments for union justice to remain clouded over and publicly unaddressed too? Will the complete story of what's happened to OECTA's Richard "Bad Boy" Brock remain hidden in a virtual Catholic union limbo? Under an OECTA veil of lurid intrigue? [LINK]
In the movie version of the "Matrix", the hero Neo is confronted with two choices in approaching the true reality of the world in which he lives. Neo can either take the blue pill or a red one. With the first he will fall asleep and awake none the wiser that the Matrix even exists. He can continue to live in a fantasy world about what is going on all around us until it totally consumes him. With the other, he will go down a rabbit hole into the Matrix to discover the truth.
Unfortunately, the truth is not easy to digest and live with, nor is it certain that he will ever be free from being used and abused, much like we are, either under the Liberal government, or even quite possibly, in some cases, even under our own union leadership!
Readers who are interested in bravely going down the rabbit hole to better discover the complete truth, whatever it might turn out to be are directed to my Teacher Free Speech News Archives 2011-16. [LINK] Here are the actual news links to what happened at the time for your reference and erudition. To truly understand where we are at, and where we are headed, it's down the rabbit hole we must go!
Your attention is directed to OECTA MOU Agreement in July 2012 [LINK], the AEFO MOU [LINK] and the passing of Bill 115 in August [LINK], the Bill 115 Charter Challenge in October [LINK], the OECTA OLRB MOU challenge beginning in December [LINK] and the OLP Leadership Convention in January 2013 [LINK]. Teacher work actions continued throughout the winter into Spring 2013 when CUPE, ETFO and OSSTF ratified their agreements [CUPE][OSSTF] [ETFO]. There are also ALOT more archive links for you to study and consider carefully around these "marker" dates, as we watch for the Bill 115 debacle unravel further in the days and weeks ahead!
Should you choose otherwise, thinking ignorance is bliss, don't complain in the daze ahead as you become but more fuel for the voracious unquenchable appetite of the Neo Lib Union Agenda in the province of Ontario! [LINK]
The latest Bill 115 news links are included in my Teacher Free Speech April News and Views blog @ HERE!
My Blogsite Manifesto: On Teacher Free Speech + Grass Root Renewal @ HERE!
OECTA: Manufacturing Consent: My POV on what's gone wrong is @ HERE!
Why You Need a Union; a good one that serves you is explained @ HERE!
Guest Blogs are also most welcome! More details are @ THERE!
Your Comments are welcome below!
Hope to see you at the deep, dark bottom of the Matrix rabbit hole of Bill 115! Let the truth and justice prevail!
In solidarity!
David Chiarelli
PS: The final tip of the hat goes to Richard who called it back on Oct 24, 2012 @ IFP.CA
Comments:
During the past week we have been treated to a virtual "April shower" of glitches in the old news "Matrix" of the mainstream media. It's also sometimes readily apparent in our teacher and education worker union missives. Little irregularities occur daily, like silences that are almost deafening. Like rips in the news fabric of media lies, revealing fleeting glimpses of the usually inconvenient and forbidden truths that are left out, that we are not told. Suggesting so much more than what we otherwise know about our once robust union movement, and those who govern us in the province of Ontario.
The Supreme Court of Ontario has ruled in favour of CUPE, ETFO and OSSTF; our provinces teacher and education worker unions, in their Bill 115 Charter Challenge! [PDF] The Ontario Liberal government did in fact violate our Charter Rights to fairly negotiate a Collective Agreement by imposing the "Putting Students First Act" aka "The OECTA Road Map" on negotiations during August 2012. [LINK]
The first, most obvious glitch in the Matrix is glaringly obvious! It's hidden in the media's shamelessly muted response in reporting the verdict. Compare that to all of their ferocious, teacher bashing back in 2012-13! Alas! Now that our teacher and education workers' "outrageous" claims of injustice have been confirmed, the news story follow up is mostly conspicuous by it's absence. It's hardly the top mainstream news story of the day! Far from it!
A possibly even bigger news story still lies ahead! Hopefully, it will be one they cannot ignore! CUPE, ETFO and OSSTF have been directed by the judge to reach a "remedy" to the incurred injustices or one will be decided by the court. It will be very interesting to see how much real fight our union leadership still has in them!
Rumours are that at the very least our front line teachers and education workers will want their "sick day plans" restored. Some are even insisting that should just be the starting point. However, others doubt that the "leadership" can even muster enough fight and resolve for that! And so we watch with bated breath for another glitch in the Matrix to tip the hat to their true intent as our often secretive leaders prepare their demands under the blaring glaze of public scrutiny!
The biggest glitch in the Matrix has without doubt been at OECTA Provincial. We still await an official response as I post this blog. The OECTA members have been advised that OECTA's legal team is looking into the matter. The silence speaks louder than words!
OECTA's name is definitely mud for our Ontario union movement! How deep the shit goes still remains hidden under the infamous OECTA Code of Silence! Who knows? Do they have any legal liability for any of their questionable actions during 2012-13 due to the court decision? Will they benefit from the "remedy" too! One highly doubts they will ever be able to wipe the dirty sheets clean again!
Not only did the Ontario Liberals use OECTA's July 2012 MOU as the Road Map for the contract agreements they insisted upon in Bill 115! [LINK] The Catholic teacher affiliate was also not party to the CUPE, ETFO and OSSTF Charter Challenge! [LINK] Bill 115 was even invoked during a December 2012 hearing against OECTA dissident members [LINK], including Halton [LINK] and Sudbury Elementary [LINK] units and the Metro 7 [LINK] in their failed OLRB MOU challenge at the time! [LINK][LINK]
Indeed, disturbing questions continue to swirl around the fate of now, long gone OECTA dissidents such as Halton's controversial President Richard "Bad Boy" Brock [LINK] [LINK]. Later removed from office in his "fight for fair representation" by a controversial, appointed OECTA Disciplinary Committee [LINK], Richard has no doubt been to hell and back a few times. [LINK] Are he and his passionate arguments for union justice to remain clouded over and publicly unaddressed too? Will the complete story of what's happened to OECTA's Richard "Bad Boy" Brock remain hidden in a virtual Catholic union limbo? Under an OECTA veil of lurid intrigue? [LINK]
In the movie version of the "Matrix", the hero Neo is confronted with two choices in approaching the true reality of the world in which he lives. Neo can either take the blue pill or a red one. With the first he will fall asleep and awake none the wiser that the Matrix even exists. He can continue to live in a fantasy world about what is going on all around us until it totally consumes him. With the other, he will go down a rabbit hole into the Matrix to discover the truth.
Unfortunately, the truth is not easy to digest and live with, nor is it certain that he will ever be free from being used and abused, much like we are, either under the Liberal government, or even quite possibly, in some cases, even under our own union leadership!
Readers who are interested in bravely going down the rabbit hole to better discover the complete truth, whatever it might turn out to be are directed to my Teacher Free Speech News Archives 2011-16. [LINK] Here are the actual news links to what happened at the time for your reference and erudition. To truly understand where we are at, and where we are headed, it's down the rabbit hole we must go!
Your attention is directed to OECTA MOU Agreement in July 2012 [LINK], the AEFO MOU [LINK] and the passing of Bill 115 in August [LINK], the Bill 115 Charter Challenge in October [LINK], the OECTA OLRB MOU challenge beginning in December [LINK] and the OLP Leadership Convention in January 2013 [LINK]. Teacher work actions continued throughout the winter into Spring 2013 when CUPE, ETFO and OSSTF ratified their agreements [CUPE][OSSTF] [ETFO]. There are also ALOT more archive links for you to study and consider carefully around these "marker" dates, as we watch for the Bill 115 debacle unravel further in the days and weeks ahead!
Should you choose otherwise, thinking ignorance is bliss, don't complain in the daze ahead as you become but more fuel for the voracious unquenchable appetite of the Neo Lib Union Agenda in the province of Ontario! [LINK]
The latest Bill 115 news links are included in my Teacher Free Speech April News and Views blog @ HERE!
My Blogsite Manifesto: On Teacher Free Speech + Grass Root Renewal @ HERE!
OECTA: Manufacturing Consent: My POV on what's gone wrong is @ HERE!
Why You Need a Union; a good one that serves you is explained @ HERE!
Guest Blogs are also most welcome! More details are @ THERE!
Your Comments are welcome below!
Hope to see you at the deep, dark bottom of the Matrix rabbit hole of Bill 115! Let the truth and justice prevail!
In solidarity!
David Chiarelli
PS: The final tip of the hat goes to Richard who called it back on Oct 24, 2012 @ IFP.CA
“We feel that the whole MOU and MOU process is unconstitutional within OECTA in terms of our own handbook and bylaws. And in terms of Bill-115, it too is unconstitutional in terms of its grab on local agreements,” said Richard Brock, president of OECTA’s Halton Elementary Unit.
He said there were three rounds of negotiations provincially, the first two being at the provincial discussion tables (PDT), each of which was ratified by the local membership. However, he the local membership and presidents were not consulted and never voted on the MOU before the agreement was signed.
“They totally snatched away items out of our local agreements that we’ve bargained long and hard for,” he said. Brock has been the local president for 25 years.
“A number of items that were clearly removed from our local agreement were items that I personally and my members in general have fought very hard to get into our agreement and have nothing to do even with the government’s initial PDT proposal back in February.”
Comments:
53 comments:
OSSTF, ETFO, AEFO, and CUPE need to sue OECTA over the OECTA MOU.
Paragraph 168 of the Judge Lederer decision is the smoking gun that proves that OECTA explicitly bargained to have legislation imposed on their fellow unions: "It was the evidence of the Assistant Deputy Minister that OECTA requested that its agreement with Ontario be embedded in legislation and ...the [Ontario]table team consistently committed to make this recommendation."
OECTA according to sworn testimony bargained to have their own agreement legislated on all of the other education Unions!! This is a fundamental betrayal of the Labour Movement and there needs to the harshest of penalties applied to this traitorous act.
O'Dwyer, Hawkins and any OECTA staffers who negotiated the OECTA MOU, and then prevented members from having a vote on it, should resign as an apology to OECTA members.
All union members check out paragraph 178 of Judge Lederer's ruling on Bill 115. OECTA made sure that all other union members would no longer have any post retirement benefits paid for by their employers. How pro-labour!
This is not a Supreme Court of Canada decision, it is an Ontario Superior Court decision which can be appealed to the Ontario Court of Appeal and then to to the Supreme Court of Canada. That process, if the government decides to take it, would take years.
Richard should have never signed a no disclosure agreement and settlement. The truth about oecta and the mou need to be held out to the light of day.
Yes everyone should understand that there may be an appeal but the testimony regardless cannot be ignored and the evidence is given is clear OECTA bargained with the government to legislate the OECTA on all of the other education unions...that is a fact regardless of whether there is an appeal. Not only did OECTA sell out their own members, they actively engaged in having the Liberals impose their deal on everyone else.
Check out what happened with BC teachers. It took 10 years to come to an end and nothing was ever settled. Yea! we won. That's all we will get from this. The thrill of victory. My $40 000 gratuity became an $8000 gratuity. That's criminal in my mind. Of course there is no support from the majority of teachers who have no gratuity at the end of the rainbow.
All public sector jobs will eventually evolve to contract work including teachers. It has started with long term contracts with beginning teachers with nine years experience and will eventually move towards senior teachers. ECE's and library technicians are examples of the phasing out of professional teachers by the province to save the bucks. The province will simply dawdle until next year's teacher's negotiations and teachers recently hired or with less than 15 years seniority will not have permanent contracts much like the city workers in their recent settlements. The Catholic Toronto board will be the first to institute parking fees up to $900.00/year. The rest of the boards will soon follow. Expect a 10% cut in wages much like the doctors to help minimize the provincial debt.
No matter how this proceeds there is now evidence that OECTA requested/conspired with the government to hurt their own members and impose that hurt on everyone else. This is as anti-worker and against members interests as it gets. Yes, Richard Brock has been proven right, yet he was dismissed.Those who requested that legislation be made and that the MoU be embedded in it, have no choice but to resign. They have disgraced OECTA and undermined their own members. It makes perfect sense now why OECTA members were denied a vote at the time. It was ratified by 4 people. Those 4 must also resign.
OECTA can rebound but it would take for local presidents to stop being sheep led to the slaughter. They are controlled and have become bobbing heads. I heard Angelo is retiring this year. What a loss. There are a few others but the attempt to silence them is ongoing. Show some real union strength unit presidents and turn this sinking ship around. Do I think you have what it takes to do this? No.
If you requested legislation or voted yes to ratify the MOU, please resign immediately.
A union requesting anti-union legislation and taking voice away from their BROTHERS and SISTERS. OECTA you have no family. You have no Brothers and SISTERS. I never thought I would see this day. OECTA you are a disgrace to the labour movement. I apologize to those few OECTA leaders that are still good and try to fight the good fight. However, your compatriots and certainly your provincial leadership has destroyed the good reputation you once had and has thrown you to the wolves to satisfy their own personal appetite.
Concerned in Dufferin Peel
You said it buddy. We lost our retiree benefits without ever being consulted or even having a vote. I think OECTA should be sued and they pay our retiree benefits.
Those at the table
should make sure that the unions named in the legal case get the fullest remedies possible and OECTA gets NOTHING.
We need to wait what grows out of this. We have only scratched the service of malfeasance. This is going to blow sky high. Those wrongdoers are going to be caught in such a whirlwind of damming light that they will have no choice but to shrink and slither away to avoid the glare of guilt. I smell a good revolution coming where the members will have a voice and use it.
The OECTA Leadership are the wolves. I guess that makes them cannibals. They did not throw their members, they devoured them as they filled their own desires.
OECTA members should be banned from using the terms Brothers and Sisters at any union gathering. It would be insulting and disingenuous for them to call me or any other member of a union Brother or Sister. A major shake up at the top of OECTA is needed because they have not only forgotten their duties and roles but have actively conspired with the government to undermine workers across Ontario. They did this as a plan and with intent.
OECTA, I am not your sister and never will be. Stay away.
Can OECTA be banned from attending any OFL and CLC meetings? There must be a mechanism whereby a union who behind the scenes, secretively, with intent, and with a plan conspires with the government to undermine other unions and take away bargaining rights from workers in general, can be removed from the OFL and CLC.
Having OECTA sit at OFL and CLC meetings sends a message to all workers, that a union can take away rights from other unions with no consequences. If the labour movement is to be respected both internally and externally then OECTA must not be a voting member at any OFL or CLC meeting.
How can we find out who from OECTA made the request to the government for legislation and to embed their awful MoU into it? That person or persons must be publicly sanctioned by the OFL and CLC. The reputations of the CLC and OFL are at stake here.
OECTA, I also am not your sister. Stay away.
Whatever became of james ryan? Kent macneill? Anyone in halton who opposed tbe odwyer mou?
How about Angelo Ippolito, Liz Stuart,Sonia DiPetta, and Julie Pauletig? Are they working inside the system to do the right thing? Does anyone know? Sorry that I cannot think of anymore good people but I hope there are more.
I fully understand why some do not want to consider us Brothers and Sisters anymore. I am a member of OECTA but please keep in mind that we never knew anything about the request for legislation and to imbed of horrible MOU in it. We never even got a vote. In our unit like many others the MOU was imposed on us through Bill 115 without any vote at all.
Here we even symbolically voted agsinst our own MOU.
I agree that the person or persons who made the request for legislation must resign. If they do not, it would be a clear sign of cowardice and self-interest overpowering the best interests of the members. I cannot see OECTA recovering from this disaster if these people do not resign.
I am your sister. I am a labour activist. I believe in Unions. I am very disappointed in and embarrassed by my own union, OECTA. Those who imposed our terrible MOU do not represent me. I am your sister and will call you brother and sister when I see you. Pleae do not tell me to stay away. I agree with you.
Innocent in York.
If all the unions who participated in the court case can get remedies and OECTA gets nothing, which is what we deserve,OECTA rank and file members will know that the four who voted for it, and especially those who requested legislation, sold us out. The leadership at OECTA has lost all mandate to govern.
The leadership must realize that they cannot be trusted and resign. Questions and concerns are being raised internally. I am very embarassed of what a few at the top attempted to do to the labour movement in Ontario.
I am a troubled OECTA member and remain a strong supporter of unions and labour.
You said it perfectly. OECTA should get nothing except a few letters of resignation. I am so embarrassed by what a few people in OECTA tried to do to the labour movement in Ontario.
My friends in ETFO and OSSTF are right in saying to me that we are worse than scabs. At least scabs show their face when they cross the picket line. The requestors did it in the dark behind closed doors just like rats.
Requestors please get the heck out of OECTA so that we can have a chance to recover. You can never be trusted again and we made a mistake ever trusting you in first place.
Requestors will you at least come out of the darkness and into the light and identify yourselves?
Requestors, if you do not resign then it is abundantly clear that you do not care about the members or the reputation of the Association but only about your selfish presevation.
You can never enter an OTF, OFL, CTF, or CLC meeting again and be trusted and respected. That is all gone. Your words and promises will be less than meaningless.
However, sadly rats will be rats.
Can we have a list of all oecta members who voted yes to the mou before not letting members vote on the mou. Those are the people at fault.
I love it. We should call the OECTA leadership, the Requestors. In fact O.E.C.T.A. should change its name to R.A.T.S. They would be known as the Requestors Association of Teacher Snakes. They should make the official colour of the association puke. Oh sorry, I mean puce.
Their symbol could be a rat sleeping with a snake in a dark corner and the number 115 could be boldly hovering above them.
Making the request to the government is so serious, I cannot see how OECTA can survive with any respect in the OFL, CLC, OTF, or CTF without resignations or dismissals at the top. Without these resignations or dismissals, they will be the laughing stock, weak link, and rats of the labour movement. To even compare the requestors to scabs is a compliment to them. I agree that they are far worse.
Proud Union Activist
The ratification vote was done in confidential, which I think is illegal. Only seven people voted in that ratification. It was ratified by a 4 to 3 margin.
The people who requested legislation and to imbed our MOU in it, did not vote. However the requestors did sign the OECTA MOU that was imposed on everyone.
There you can now figure out who was who in this anti-labour fiasco caused by OECTA.
A total of 6 people brought this down on the workers of Ontario. One of the six has publicly regreted being part of it and apologized. That leaves 3 who voted yes to ratification and two requestors. We all know who they are but they are to afraid to come forward and identify themselves.
OECTA is being led by anti-worker chicken-rats.
YES, hats off to Richard! It's time for the real truth to come out. What goes around, comes around.
You will find my "Dissident OECTA MOU Guide PE and COP Votes" in the Archives top left Dec 15 2012. A further cross reference of the original names can also be found March 11 2013 in "MOU Count: OECTA Voting Results". Otherwise there are extensive references and links to the OECTA MOU "ratification" [or rather lack thereof] throughout the June-Aug 2012 posts in my Teacher Free Speech Archives. The names of who voted for and against the OECTA MOU should all be there!
OECTA EXECUTIVE VOTE on MOU
Exec. September 20-21, 2012
Discussion continued on the Memorandum of Understanding dated July 5, 2012. Cox/Donihee THAT THE PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE RATIFY THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND OECTA DATED JULY 5, 2012. (PE-12/13-54) CARRIED
Executive Member In Favour Opposed Absent
Kevin O'Dwyer x
James Ryan x
Chris Karahanga X
Ann Hawkins X
Warren Grafton X
Sonia Di Petta X
Andrew Donahue X
Jeremy Cox X
Julie Pauletig X
There was debate on the motion and a recorded vote was requested.
The motion carried. Kevin O'Dwyer was off kissing the Minister of Ed's arse at the time and too busy to vote for his BABY.
I posted this since I can not find your references in this blog. also wanted teachers to know who the main quislings were.
Unfortunately, this is confusing. James Ryan, Sonia Di Petta and Julies Pauletig voted on executive against. See the Dec 2012 Dissident Guide list for how the COP Presidents and OTF Officers voted too.
Record of MOU Exec and COP Votes was not officially released until the end of 2012. The OECTA blogs and reader Comments from July 2012 Archives are insightful still.
I also interviewed Ryan, Karahanga and Di Petta on their MOU Vote in their March 2013 AGM Election blogs. Chris explained and apologized for his yes vote at that time. Interesting! Other 2 stood by their no vote when seeking re-election, but overall results were mixed, as exec was split.[See March 2013 Archive]
The vote on the MOU again since your program skewed the results
Kevin O'Dwyer absent kissing govt butt
James Ryan against
Chris Karahanga for
Ann Hawkins for
Warren Grafton for
Sonia Di Petta against
Andrew Donahue for
Jeremy Cox for
Julie Pauletig against
These quislings paved the way for the biggest contract strip in history by the government of Ontario! Do not forget their names- they will live on in infamy- on the executive of OECTA provincial in the secretariat with humongous salaries and a banked sick leave plan in case they get exposed to any germs in their virtually unoccupied offices! OECTA members have a tradition of giving awards to those who have made their working conditions deplorable.
Sure but you are leaving out the secretariat, govenors and COP presidents who are also instrumental and quite culpable in the OECTA MOU. The key dissidents were crushed long ago, along with hope of reform. Maybe one of our earlier commentators was right: this is a job for the bigger union movement to breach.
Is anyone aware of any official comment or stray missives yet from the provincial office?
See the COP minutes I sent you via email. It would be nice if you could publish these for all to see as it is the subject under current discussion!The truth shall set the membership free!
I did not receive. Did you send to davechiarelli@gmail.com?
This is a Supreme Court decision and can not be overturned readily!
Ontario Supreme Court ....
Sadly screw OECTA over y it looks like they extend your contract. No matter tho -still beat. No allies left. Membership basically polically null y void. Havent been on strike since 90's. Have hitched fortunes to OLP -good luck!
Other affiliates? Watch as they start to back pedal. Are all ready telling members not to expect much. Of course they dont want to roll back provincial bargaining to local units.
There is a story out there that the Waterloo Catholic School Board has agreed to pay teachers so many cents on the dollar as a remedy to Bill 115...cash payment for sick days banked up to the year 2012 and the OECTA MOU. Verification????
I've heard this is happening elsewhere too but have no direct links. Should you take the money [pennies on the dollar for your sick day bank] and run?
OECTA members are not guaranteed nor entitled to any remedy to Bill 115/ and the MOU as a result of the Charter Challenge, in which you did not participate. Should there be a rollback, there is no saying you would get it, though it seems a stretch to think the OLP would screw you over some more for OECTA's loyalty and complicity [as per paragraphs 168+178 etc in the verdict] in helping violate the other affiliates Charter Rights. Not that the party are not a very reliable allie to start with ....
You might want to take this up with your own local or the provincial office. Regretfully, I somehow doubt OECTA will be receiving much solidarity or assistance in these or for that matter any other CB matters, on a go forward basis. You are really on your own now.
Personally I retired and cashed in my sick bank at par in spring 2013 as the terms of the OECTA MOU came into effect. I am confident I made the right choice.
Good luck! You have a lot of really good questions that your affiliate needs to answer for. Let us know what happens!
PS: I've heard that some of the public boards are offering the same buy out. These teachers might want to wait to see what happens with your affiliates "remedy" to Bill 115 and the OECTA MOU Roadmap. However, I still remain highly skeptical that CUPE ETFO and OSSTF will want a rollback to the status quo before July 5 2012 as that would mean returning collective bargaining to the local units. Hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it!
Hi David,
Not sure what you're referring to when you say reversing Bill 115 would return collective bargaining to local units or "status quo". Bargaining rights belonged to the provincial organizations under the Education Act. That's been so for decades. Provincial control has been the "status quo" for a long time. Neither Bill 115 (nor Bill 122, the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act - perhaps you're mixing up the two pieces of legislation) did anything to change the dynamics of control in bargaining. If there was a full restoration of sick leave banks, gratuities, etc., stolen through Bill 115, the provincial organizations would still control local and provincial bargaining, as they have for decades. Bill 115 did absolutely nothing to change that dynamic.
The gratuity "buy out" you're referring to is the early retirement gratuity payout option in the 2014 central agreements (it's in OSSTF's, ETFO's and probably OECTA's. That's a strictly voluntary payout. No one is forced to take it, and 99% of members SHOULD NOT be taking it as it would result in a severe reduction of the gratuity payout for most of them. The only teachers who should consider it are those who are going to be teaching in a different board next year. Gratuities aren't portable. You can't transfer your gratuity if you move boards; you lose the gratuity completely. So for those few teachers moving boards, taking the early gratuity makes sense.
For anyone else thinking of taking it - you are letting your fear of the boogeyman who's going to take your gratuity away take over and are acting against your own self-interest. The boogeyman is not coming: he already came and took what he wanted in 2012 and he's not coming back. Hasn't the government already taken enough from you, now you want to screw yourself over, too? Calm down, relax and wait until retirement to cash out your gratuity. It will be there when you're ready to go.
The silence is deafening.
Dear Ms C!
I very much appreciate your concerns and am quite sympathetic. However, I am going to have to ask that you identify yourself by name before posting the Comment you've submitted. You identify non-elected officials by name. Also, I cannot personally verify the many claims you make.
I would appreciate that our readers take responsibility for their own words in such cases to avoid some of the problems of the past.
Many thanks!
David C
"In a democracy people get the leaders they deserve." Abraham Lincoln .This also applies to "our" "teachers'" union.
Yes Anon! I shouldn't generalize. Local CB whithered away w/o a fight over successive provincial negotiations with the OLP MOE, capped by Bill 122. It will be very insightful to see what remedy CUPE ETFO OSSTF will seek.
"You are the union. Or you should be." [Me]
For direct reading of pertinent court comments see
Court findings
http://goldblattpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/ETFOBill115.pdf
Bill 115 court findings re OECTA Specifically Section 168 and Section 178 talk about how Kevin O’Dwyer, Anne Hawkins and OECTA 2012 helped the government to slash and burn Ontario unions
We at the previous halton executive were harassed until we all left. Any time ice made a comment I have received treats from the now halton executive (the betrayer) and provincial
Luz is now part of Marshall's team, the rest left disappointed or are quiet (threatened into silence?)
Yes, teachers don't pay attention and are going to be empty en more screwed
Glad you are paying attention OECTACAT!
Not good enough....Richard Brock should be vindicated publicly just as he was crucified publicly. Province wide! Shame on OECTA Provincial, James Ryan and the current Halton Elementary OECTA president. Full reinstatement of Richard is justice!
I wish Richard Brock would come back and be elected as provincial president! It would be good to have someone who is for member rights and interests in charge for a change! Teachers have virtually nothing left thanks to dishonest or incompetent leaders!
Something criminal happened behind closed doors between OECTA staff, government staff, OECTA consultants/contractors, and the Ontario Liberal Party and possibly OSSTF staff/politicians of the day. There needs to be a full inquiry to sniff out the offenders.
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