www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, April 24, 2015 | 16 Board negotiators remain upbeat after latest talks by Tim Whitnell Metroland West Media The chief negotiator for the Halton District School Board (HDSB) was upbeat after the latest local contract talks with its high school teachers. "Yesterday (April 22), we engaged in very productive, collaborative and creative discussions related to some key issues," Jeff Blackwell, the board's acting executive officer of human resources, said in an email to the Oakville Beaver , without elaborating. He said board negotiators met for four hours on Wednesday with representatives of Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) District 20 Halton. "We continue to be optimistic about our negotiations based on our professional relationships with and respect for our local OSSTF members and their bargaining team," Blackwell added. He said the next bargaining session with the permanent high school teachers' union is a full day on April 30 followed by a half day on May 1. The board and its OSSTF occasional teachers are meeting for full days on April 27 and 28. "Negotiations with our local OSSTF bargaining unit continue to be meaningful and positive," said Blackwell. OSSTF District 20 Halton Local President Brad Fisher could not be reached for comment by the Beaver's press deadline. OSSTF Halton represents 1,300 permanent full- and part-time HDSB high school teachers. Halton Secondary Occasional Teachers (HSOT) is an affiliate of OSSTF District 20. It represents about 600 occasional teachers who fill in for permanent teachers when they are absent due to illness or leaves of absence. Tom Beer is the president of HSOT. Teachers province-wide have been without a contract since Aug. 31, 2014. The Halton public board and its high school teachers have been in a legal strike or lockout position since April 17. Under the Ontario Labour Relations Act, a minimum of five days' notice must be given before any strike or lockout can occur. None has been given by either side. Public high school teachers are on strike in Durham Region. The Rainbow public school board in the Sudbury area set a strike date for its high school teachers -- April 27. Peel has set May 4. Other boards that have been served notice that high school teachers may strike are Halton, Waterloo, Ottawa-Carleton and Lakehead in Thunder Bay. The local level talks are centered on nonmonetary issues. Monetary items are bargained provincially at a central table. It is the first time a two-tiered bargaining process has been used in Ontario. The provincial government has said there is no money in its budget for raises in the public sector. Project Autism Awareness Variety Show hits the stage Sunday Project Autism will host its third annual Autism Awareness Variety Show Sunday (April 26). The grassroots initiative offers resources, workshops, classes, social programs and a 12-week summer soccer program open to all children and young adults with disabilities. Since its founding two years ago by Oakville resident Patrick Lee, Project Autism has hosted 65 workshops, social events and classes, all offered free to its participants. "The upcoming show is a performer extravaganza that is host to 10 amazing talented musicians, dancers, artists and all of them from our very own community," said Lee. "Some of them have disabilities themselves, while others just stand proud in support." The variety show takes place at the OE Banquet and Conference Centre, 2245 Speers Rd., in Oakville from 1-4:30 p.m. All proceeds will benefit Autism Dog Services and Rainbows of Joy, a community project helping autism spectrum disorder families afford specialized summer camps and social groups, as well as applied behaviour analysis (ABA) and intensive behavioural intervention (IBI) therapies. 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