Important Message Regarding Planned Political Protest by ETFO on Friday

TORONTO CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

REGARDING ONE-DAY PROTEST BY MEMBERS OF

THE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS FEDERATION OF ONTARIO (ETFO)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2013

ETFO has announced its members will stage a one-day protest on Friday, January 11,

2013, against the imposition of collective agreements by the Minister of Education. Like

other Catholic school boards in Ontario, the Toronto Catholic District School Board

(TCDSB) schools will not be impacted by this action.

These questions and answers are provided to parents of TCDSB students to help clarify

the issues surrounding the current labour situation in Ontario’s education system.

Q: Will all Toronto Catholic School Board schools be open on Friday during the

one-day protest by ETFO members across the province?

A:

Yes – all TCDSB schools will be open. Teachers in Catholic elementary and

secondary schools are

not involved in any form of organized job action.

Q: Why is ETFO conducting the one-day protest?

A:

As of December 31, 2012, the Minister of Education had the authority under Bill 115 to

impose contracts on

all school board employees. The Minister did that on Thursday,

January 3, 2013. Friday’s action by EFTO is being held to protest the imposition of these

collective agreements.

Q: What about TCDSB Unions?

A:

As the first major school board to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU),

members of TCDSB Staff and its labour union partners met throughout the fall in a series

of extensive collective bargaining sessions to complete collective agreements under the

requirements of new regulations outlined in the Ontario Ministry of Education legislation,

which came into effect on September 1, 2012.

Due to the leadership of our various unions who worked diligently with our Board staff at

the negotiation table, collective agreements have been signed and approved by teachers

and staff representing three of four of its union partners at the December 31, 2012

deadline. We continue to work with all our labour Union partners to foster positive

ongoing relations.

Q: What does this mean?

A:

The TCDSB is a strong supporter of free collective bargaining at the local level. By

reaching collectively bargained agreements with our Unions we are ensuring certainty for

parents, students and teachers. The signed deals will provide stability and a nurturing

learning environment in TCDSB schools for the next two years.