Local Bargaining Update
As announced in April 2024, 99% voted in favour of taking local strike action if necessary to support meaningful bargaining and to reach a fair collective agreement for ETFO Toronto Occasional Teacher members.
A 99% strike mandate sends a strong and clear message to the employer.
The most recent bargaining dates between the Local and the Board were scheduled for June 17 and 18, 2024
Your Collective Bargaining Team met with the Board on June 17, 2024 and the progress at the table remained slow and difficult to achieve a fair deal for our Occasional Teacher members. Little progress has been achieved on key issues that address the important proposals your Bargaining Team is trying to negotiate.
Additionally, the strips that the Board have tabled and the change to your ability to choose your work location remain on the table and are unchanged.
The Local made the decision to apply for conciliation as per the School Board’s Collective Bargaining Act as the next step in the legal bargaining process and the paperwork was filed on June 20, 2024.
Once the Ministry of Labour appoints a conciliator, a conciliation meeting will be set in due course. When the meeting date is established, you will be notified, and your team will continue to keep you informed in a timely manner as bargaining dates and events unfold.
The Occasional Teacher Bargaining unit and the Elementary Teachers of Toronto are experiencing similar difficulties at the table and have both applied for conciliation.
What is Conciliation?
It is like mediation. It is a voluntary process by both parties in which a facilitator assigned by the Ministry of Labour (under Ontario Labour Relations Act) assists employers and employees to resolve disputes when their own efforts have not succeeded. The goal is to reach a common understanding on how to resolve the outstanding issues at the table.
What happens in conciliation?
Once the conciliator is appointed by the Minister of Labour, they will meet with the parties in an effort to help discussions progress. The parties to bargaining must confer at least once with the conciliator. The conciliator can make suggestions, but they have no authority to impose a settlement on the parties.
What happens if conciliation is successful?
If conciliation is successful, an Occasional Teacher tentative agreement will be reached and will be submitted to the appropriate section of the membership for ratification. If the majority of members vote in favor of the tentative agreement, it becomes their new Local agreement.
What happens if conciliation fails?
The Local’s goal is to reach fair Local agreements for its members, so we are optimistic that the conciliation process will be successful. As such, the local is putting its total focus right now on conciliation. We are hopeful that as a neutral third party, the conciliation officer can help us make progress in bargaining.
However, if the conciliation fails to produce a positive result:
-the parties can continue to bargain without the presence of a conciliator.
Or
-either party can ask the conciliator to file a “no board” report stating that they may be at impasse
Is binding arbitration the same as conciliation?
No- Binding arbitration is a process whereby and arbitrator would look at the outstanding issues and decide which, if any, proposals would be included in the collective agreement.
It is unlikely that the key issues we have brought forward, which are critical to learning and working conditions in our schools, would be addressed. It will impact the opportunity for meaningful Local bargaining on key Local issues. The Local respects our right to free a fair Collective Bargaining and we come to the bargaining table prepared to engage in meaningful discussions about critical issues facing our Occasional Teachers.
What is expected of Occasional Teachers during conciliation?
During conciliation Occasional Teachers will engage in their professional responsibilities as they normally would. Your leadership team will continue to make your voice heard at the bargaining table.
Not receiving Constant Contact to update you on Collective Bargaining?
We may not have a current e-mail address on file for you. You can e-mail your Local Released Officer Team. Current Released Officer information will be updated soon on our Local’s website. It is imperative that you remain involved and vigilant during this process, your Local and Collective Bargaining Team is here to serve you.
It has been a pleasure serving you as your local CN this year. Sharon Brown, Vice-President/Chief Negotiator (2023-2024).
We are looking forward to reaching a fair collective agreement for all Occasional Teachers.
The CB team 2023-2024 appreciates your ongoing support and wishes you a pleasant summer.