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Parent to take kids to work: not happy with unions By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF As members of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) prepared for a oneday protest/strike today (Friday), thousands of Halton parents scrambled to figure out what to do with their children. After receiving an e-mail from the Halton District School Board (HDSB) Wednesday afternoon, informing her there would be no public elementary school classes Friday, Oakville parent Elizabeth Betty-Ann Yamoah, spoke to her supervisor and received permission to take her two children to work with her. While bringing the Grade 3 and Grade 4 Sunningdale Public School students to her job was not an ideal solution there were few other options said Yamoah as her husband also works and neither parent has any family in the area with whom their children could stay. Yamoah said she does not appreciate the position she has been placed in, nor the short notice she was given to deal with the situation. "I feel I am being victimized and my children are being victimized," said Yamoah. "I don't feel it is the teachers' fault. It's the teachers' union, which they have to adhere to." During the one-day teachers' strike on Dec. 19, Yamoah said her husband was able to take the day off and stay with the children as he had some holiday time available. The family's options were more limited this time around. "I just started my job in July so I don't have a lot of vacation or days I can take off," said Yamoah. The teacher protest is against Bill 115 (Putting Students First Act), which was used by Ontario Education Minister Laurel Broten at the start of 2013 to impose contracts on public school teachers and education workers. Yamoah said the teachers' unions are operating in their own world and that this kind of behaviour would not be tolerated in the private sector. 3 · Friday, January 11, 2013 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com "If I'm at my job and I want to protest something, what's going to happen to me? I am going to be shown the door very quickly." Elizabeth Betty-Ann Yamoah, Oakville resident "If I'm at my job and I want to protest something, what's going to happen to me?" Yamoah asked. "I am going to be shown the door very quickly." Yamoah said she could see the government's side of the argument noting the Province has asked other public unions to make sacrifices and is now asking the same of the teachers' unions. She said it is important for parents to speak up so others cannot claim to be acting with parental support if they are not. While only one protest/strike day was scheduled thus far, Yamoah said she feared this was only the beginning and Halton parents could soon find themselves struggling to find last-minute childcare again if the struggle between the Province and the teachers' unions continues. While the Province and the ETFO argued yesterday (Thursday) at the Labour Relations Board whether today's elementary teachers' action was a protest or illegal strike, public high school teachers had announced plans for a similar protest Jan. 16. Board waited to make final call Continued from page 1 The HDSB made the call to close its elementary schools shortly after the announcement saying there would be inadequate supervision. However, Premier Dalton McGuinty called the protest an illegal strike and headed to the Ontario Labour Relations Board to seek an injunction. The hearing was yesterday afternoon. The union argued it could hold a one-day political protest under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Province argued teachers would be illegal striking, as there is a collective agreement in place -- imposed on teachers Jan. 3 with Bill 115 (Putting Students First Act). Euale said the decision to close schools could have been overturned even late Thursday, but only if certain criteria were met. The labour board would have to side with the Province and the teachers' union would need to guarantee it would comply with the labour board's decision. "We have to have an indication that they are going to report to work," Euale said. "If we get that indication, we will reverse the decision, but the likelihood of that is not good because we have to hear the decision first and we have to wait for the leadership of ETFO to respond to it and put busses back on... If nothing happens, then schools remain closed to students." At Wednesday's board meeting, Euale noted school administrators and educational assistants (EAs) would be in the elementary school buildings today. He said teachers who come to school would be admitted and paid. Teachers who don't show up would have the David Euale day's pay deducted. Daycare centres on school property would be open and before and after school care providers could run full-day programing in the schools. While school boards across the province were waiting for the resolution from the labour board, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), which represents public high school teachers, announced it planned to hold a political protest on Wednesday, Jan. 16. For ongoing coverage, visit www.oakvillebeaver.com. Dr. Nyla Jiwani ND & Chris Robertson PTS y Januar l Specia initial personal training session 50 % OFF Our highly skilled PERSONAL TRAINERS will help you to acheive your goals this year in our private, upscale, fully equipped gym Do you want to lose 3-7 lbs a week safely, our Naturopathic Doctor can help you achieve that goal! 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