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Mandate does not mean there will be a strike: union Continued from page 1 9 · Friday, September 28, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Relations Act. We are not signators to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Catholic teachers and we will continue to move with a strike vote and conciliation and move towards a position where a strike vote or lock-out could happen, but hopefully can be avoided," said Brad Fisher, OSSTF District 20 president. Fisher is also TBU president in Halton. A strike mandate does not mean there will be a strike. The mandate is part of normal bargaining procedure that gives bargaining units the member permission to negotiate, which has the potential of a strike, said Fisher. "(A strike) would be a response to the government and it would create hardship for the board," Fisher said. "We get along with our board fine, but they're the agent of the government, so a strike position has the potential to interfere with the operation of the school, hopefully not the education of the students." He said the union would avoid an actual strike, unless the government forces it. Instead, the union could go after some form of job sanction. After the passing of the act (Bill 115), negotiations have ended between school boards and the unions. The bill gives the government the right to reject or to remove any section of a contract signed between school boards and unions. "Given that, why would anybody negotiate?" Fisher asked. However, Fisher added, the Leslie Wolfe, executive offi- rejected the government's ceed with local bargaining across Ontario that have also government is not the teach- cer with the OSSTF, said in the heavy-handed imposition of under the Ontario Labour voted in favour of a strike maners' direct employer, the school release, "With these strike votes undemocratic legislation and Relations Act." date, including recent addiboards are. OSSTF/FEESO members in have provided OSSTF/FEESO The Halton unit of OSSTF tions in Hamilton-Wentworth, "They're (the government) Halton District have clearly with a clear mandate to pro- is among numerous others Toronto and Upper Grand. interfering with the bargaining between the boards and the teachers' unions. That is a violation under the Labour Relations Act. That is political interference," he said. Fisher noted the fight is not about zero per cent wage increases or benefits. It's about teachers rights and effectively the rights of all Canadian citizens. "If you can take away the rights of a Canadian citizen -- it's fine if you think it's OK for teachers -- but once you diminish one group, you diminish us all because you can take away the rights of anybody then," Fisher said. Province-wide, the OSSTF has 60,000 members, which includes high school teachers and support staff. The OSSTF has Protect your home with the best. And do it at a price that will have your wallet saying applied for conciliation, which will go to the "thanks" too. Get to a better StateTM. Contact a State Farm® agent today. Labour Relations Board of the Ontario Ministry of Labour. The board has 15 days to come up with a conciliation report or a no board report. Seventeen days after that, the union would be Angelo Gualtieri, Agent Andrew J Heideman, Agent Deborah Bartucci, Agent Darryl R Demille Ins Agcy Ltd in a strike position and Oakville Oakville Oakville Darryl Demille CFP, Agent the board would be in a 905-257-7773 905-829-0018 905-337-3276 Oakville lockout position. www.angelogualtieri.com www.andrewheideman.ca www.autoinsuranceoakville.ca 905-842-1020 If your walls could talk, they'd thank you. Great home insurance. www.darryldemille.ca European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship Stacey Sutherland, Agent Oakville 905-339-3276 www.insuranceinoakville.com Stephen Ostapchuk, Agent Oakville 905-238-5643 www.stephenostapchuk.ca Michelle Cooper Ins and Fin Sv Michelle Cooper CFP, Agent Oakville 905-826-4900 www.michellecooper.ca Daniel Durst, Agent Oakville 905-847-1898 www.danieldurst.com 905.849.0266 "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass" statefarm.ca® 1201310CN State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, Aurora, Ontario