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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 26, 2012 · 8 Teachers vow that this is just the beginning Continued from page 1 access free collective bargaining," said protester Marg Macfarlane, Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) Halton unit president. "This protest really is to send a strong message to the government that teachers and education workers remain concerned and this is just the beginning. We are not about to forget what they have done and we will continue to keep this in the forefront, keep the message out there for people to hear." Debbie Majka, president of the Office Clerical and Technical Unit of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), Halton unit, said Bill115 affects more than just teachers. Her unit represents office clerks, library technicians, print shop workers, board office workers and more. They, too, have been shortchanged by the bill, she said, noting her members earn between $17-$27 per hour. They have been reduced to having 10 sick days per year as were teachers, even though her members work 12 months of the year. They previously had two sick days per month. In addition, support staff, like teachers, who have been in the system less than 10 years, have had their sick day gratuity removed. Previously, they had been allowed to bank unused sick time. Teachers and support workers who have worked for 10 years or more, as of Aug. 31 of this year, can keep 200 banked sick days. Protester Tracey Newman, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 5200, said, "We are caretakers, secretaries, EAs, ECEs, custodians, librarians, it affects us all," she said. Brad Fisher, OSSTF Halton president, said the legislation has taken away teachers' con- Seniors & Caregivers Town Hall Quality Care Alliance at an Date: Friday, September 28, 2012 Time: 7pm - 9pm (refreshments served) 1-855-660-6619 or visit stitutional rights. "We live in a democracy. The Constitution gives us freedom of association with the right to bargain," he said. "This is a bigger picture. This is about students' rights, too. They will be the ones who will be the workers. They will inherit these rights." Fisher also spoke about extra-curricular activities, recognizing activities have stopped in some schools -- but not by union mandate. "There are so many things teachers do for free, that's why they're called extra-curricular," he said. "We've simply reminded teachers who are upset, that if they are unwilling to do them, they don't have to." In an act of solidarity, the Oakville and District Labour Council was present at the rally. Tim Batke, the council's second vice president, is hoping people recognize teachers do extra-curricular activities on their own time and should not feel like they have to do it. "Right now, there is a lot of concern in the community about teachers doing all the extra-curriculars. We, as a society, and a community, must be cognizant of the fact these teachers are doing this on their own time," he said. "They don't get paid for that. They never have, and yet, they've been doing it for as long as you and I and our parents have been taught." He said the legislation sets a dangerous precedent. Batke is a member of the Canadian Autoworkers (CAW) Local 707, which has been bargaining with auto manufacturers. If the teachers could be forced to work through legislation, he asked if the government would then declare the auto sector as an essential service as it is vital to Ontario's economy. ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog After school protest: Teachers and their supporters protested outside Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's office Friday. "This kind of precedent concerns us in the CAW and in the Labour Council, who represent a broader sphere of the labour movement." Responding this week, Flynn said the government is responsible for negotiating terms with its employees. When it appears one side is not negotiating, which he said happened as one of the unions stopped coming to the bargaining table, then the courts support the government to impose an agreement. "Given the dire financial straits the world is in -- Ontario is doing very well -- we want to continue to do well. So we imposed an agreement," he said. Flynn said the agreement was reasonable, similar to that signed by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, which represents approximately onethird of Ontario teachers. Flynn said the government was ready for tough negotiations and serious about enforcing a wage freeze, but made concessions, too, such as giving the English Catholic teachers union latitude for assessments and hiring -- something it had wanted. "Were they tough negotiations? Absolutely," Flynn said. "OECTA, which reached a deal, will also tell you they were tough negotiations, but they had the fortitude to stay at the table." Flynn said he would have preferred a negotiated contract; however the government has been able to reach deals with some unions. Tuesday it reached a tentative two-year collective agreement with the Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario. It freezes the wages of government level managers for two years. "We built the best public education system in the English-speaking world, our teachers are the highest paid in all of Canada, and yet we found something to argue about." www.oakville.ca Saturday September 29, 2012 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Queen Elizabeth Community and Cultural Centre will be the hub for Culture Days 2012! featuring art activities, fibre arts, pottery, dance, musical performances, arts exhibition, and much more. Don't miss your chance to experience Oakville's newest hot spot Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre for all your arts, recreation and cultural activities! Visit www.oakville.ca and www.culturedays.ca for more information and a listing of events. Culture Days is a free, interactive celebration of arts and culture from coast to coast. Culture Days was conceived in response to the growing recognition that a vibrant arts and cultural sector contributes directly to a healthy and stable society. Join us for free, interactive fun for all ages