ETFO continues battle against Bill 115
Despite the resignation of Dalton McGuinty, Bill 115 is implemented and agreements are imposed. President Hammond responded:
“ETFO members never said they were opposed to a salary freeze in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years. The government has told the public that they have simply put a hold on salary increases during the term of the contract. In truth, the government has done much more; they have confiscated all unused sick days and paid some teachers less than 10 percent of the value of the seized days; they have frozen retirement gratuities; they have imposed an inferior sick leave process; and, they have delayed grid movement. ”
On January 11, after a marathon session of the OLRB, ETFO agrees to abide by their decision that a planned one-day political protest by teachers would be illegal. Instead, a massive rally is planned and carried out at Maple Leaf Gardens on January 25 & 26, 2013, during the Liberal leadership convention.
As Liberal delegates vote on the future premier of Ontario, 30,000 teachers, educators, union members, parents and citizens crowd the streets outside the old arena. OSSTF, OECTA, CUPE, SEIU, OPSEU, PSAC are among the public sector unions marching in support; CAW, UFCW and CEP represent Canada’s unionized private-sector employees.