2-he Canadien Champion, Ffiday, January 29, 1999 Catholic teac ers complain to labour board By KIM ARNOTT Special to The Champion A compiaint to the Ontario Labour Relations Board is the latest saivo in the ongoing battie between Halton's Catboiic scbooi board and its bigb scbooi teachers. The complaint, alleging bcd faitb bar- gaining, bas been filed by the Ontario Englisb Catboiic Teachers' Union (QECTA), wbicb reprecents the 375 Halton teachers. OECTA is alieging the board violated the Labour Relations Act by uniiaterally imposing a plan wbicb wouid ailow stu- dents to make up ciea time missed back in September and October wben tbe teachers undertook a partial strike. Under the program imposed by the board, teachers are flot paid for miaking up tbe lost 25 bours of cas time, despite the fact that tbey were docked 25 per cent of their pay wben tbey refused to teach the classes in the feul. ire Pece, who heada up the Haiton sec- ondary unit of QECTA, said the compiaint cao names the Ministry of Education for interfering in the collective bargaining process by ordering the board to develop the make-up plan. "Tbey've ciearly vioiated the bergaining proceas," Mr. Pece said. Tbe complaint came et Use beginning of a week wben Use board and the union are due to sit down and review the board's financial records. Board: No more money Tbe scbool board bas repeatedly said that it bas no more money to pay its unbappy high school teachers, while the teachers' union continues to dlaim the board bas more Usen enougb money to set- tde the dispute. A provincial mediator working with the two aides requested that the teachers review the board' s financial books, in the hope of ftutbering Use possibiiity of a con- tract settlement. But Mr. Pece isn't optimistic the review will be useful. The union bas already looked at the numbers, be says, adding, "I can tell you tbere's a surplus tbere, baced on wbat they've reported to the Ministry of Education." In fact, Mr. Pece dlaims the board could catisfy every demand the bigh school teachers bave made and still bave a surplus of $1 .8 million in Use area of salaries. But Jim Sberlock, chair of the Halton District Catholic School Board, says that's simply ridiculous. "In my opinion, that's totaiiy inaccu- rate," hie said. While the union dlaims the board will see a 22 per cent increace in revenue this year, Mr. Sherlock says that number is dloser to 4 per cent. Big gap "It's that kind of gap that mekes it diffi- cuit to, retponsibly negotiate and it's tuat kind of gap that the mediator wanted to have discusseri," Mr. Sherlock added. The dispute, wbich bas dragged on since September, bas taken its toîl in termis of botb student and teacher morale. Mr. Pece says that many teachers, pertic- ularly in specialized fields, are leaving the board to, teach elsewheoe. And given the province-wide teacher shortage that bas been reported, bie believes the Halton board is taking entirely the wrong approach. "If they want to attract the best teachers, tbey sbould be trying to, get tbe best con- tract," be said. -Tbey cen afford it." Times have changed 'Ibis is not 25 years ago wben Catbolic secondary education was just struggling to get on ita feet," Mr. Pece added. "We've got equitable funding now and it sbould be equitable for teachers. "Catbolic secondery teachers sbould not have to subsidize Catbolic education any longer. Tbey've done it for fer too long." But Mr. Sberlock says that type of rbetoric bac contributed to the lengtby delay in reaching a collective agreement. "The union membership's expectations have been raised to totally unreasonable -se FAITH on page 17 1Ô.-66% OFF! For a very limited time get unlimited savings at La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries* Factory Au~thorized Clearance Sale*. it's our once-a-yeat event where you'l find remarkabie deala on the largest selection of quality La-Z-Boy» furnitere in Ontario. Including discnntinued items, floor modela, onè-of-a-icinds, and returna. Witb thousands of colora and styles to choose from. So hurry in, an event of this magnitude won't iaat long. BIGGEST FOR ONE YEAR0 NO DOWN PAYMENr Reciners front $379 e Sofas from $699 e Beclining Sofas from $8991~