AEFO signs MOU!

FRIDAY A.M.: LATEST NEWS LINKS NOW ALSO ADDED BELOW PHOTO: Includes Franco school boards' claim that they reject AEFO deal, and reports about OSSTF meeting with MOE on Wednesday. 

Thursday morning 9:30: I'm headed to the Media Room in the Queen's Park legislature for a press conference with Ontario's Minister of Education, Laurel Broten. It's on a reader's tip. Somethings up. Nobody is quite sure but by late yesterday the rumours were that the MOE and AEFO had reached an agreement. Outside it's overcast and drizzling, but pleasantly warm. I arrive to a near empty room. A few camera and sound men are setting up as the reporters and guests arrive.

The Education Minister arrives enters promptly at 10 a.m. with two attaches. They stay by the door. Laurel personally greets the guests in a warm but business like manner and says hello to the press. She knows them by name. The guests include Stuart from AEFO. A few observers from OSSTF and ETFO, most of whom I've met. Others say they recognize me from my blog. There's also a lone Conservative member who's come to observe. I don't see anyone else from OECTA. I've known and worked with Laurel for many years, and today, I am here on my own, not in an official capacity. It's a very sparse group. I wait to say hello to Laurel until after the press conference is over.

The Minister announces that the MOE has reached an MOU with AEFO [the french teachers union]. It's based upon the OECTA "road map". An attache hands out copies of the press release. I look it over as the Minister speaks. At first brush, it seems pretty much the same as ours. The Minister points out that it is, except for a few minor differences, with their LTD arrangements, and to make a few french language accommodations.

Education Minister Broten notes that the ministry has now reached MOU's with teachers from about 50% of the province's schools. She mentions OECTA, AEFO, and is pleased that the TCDSB is on board too. She says she looks forward to also reaching agreements with EFTO and OSSTF very soon. She explains that she believes she has given them enough time to bargain locally. The Liberal government will recall Queen's Park and legislate the PDT agreement into effect by the end of month if no agreement is reached. She claims the provincial government can't afford to let the previous contract roll over, if new ones aren't in place by August 31st. She says the province can't give the teachers a 5.5% raise. She repeats the Premiers messaging that we will have to put the pay raises on "pause" for the next while, so the the province can deal with the deficit while keeping caps on class size. Also to keep the all day kindergarten program in place.

She then turns her attention to the province's trustees. She points out they have inaccurate information on fair hire and assessment as it has been worded in the OECTA agreement. She encourages the trustees to actually read the OECTA PDT MOU. She is quite blunt about this and spares no punches. The MOE wants there to be fair, open and transparent fair hiring practices equally in effect across the province. The MOU doesn't say that teachers don't have to do any diagnostic testing. There will be a PPM shortly forthcoming to further clarify the assessment issue. She explains that teachers know their students best. Our professional judgement also needs to be recognized in the student assessment process.


Education Minister Broten is hard as steel, very firm, poised and on top of her game. Her somewhat insecure demeanour the last time we met, at the March OECTA AGM 2012 seems long gone, replaced by a grim determination befitting of her position, as is the business skirt and jacket she is wearing today. Like it or not folks, she seems to have hit her stride.

During question time she is grilled real hard by the press but sticks to her messaging. She refuses to address the legislation issue any further at this time. She will not speculate on the prospect of whether it could be considered a confidence vote, nor the prospects for a provincial election this fall. She will deal with that when the time comes. She emphasizes the need for the school boards to work at having contracts in place by September.She had nothing further to say about these issues at this point in time.


I personally said goodbye to Minister Broten as she left the legislature. She noted she is very proud how OECTA and the MOE were able to work out an agreement, and that the TCDSB, the largest Catholic board in the province, has committed themselves to it for our local contract negotiations.

I always strive to provide honest, balanced coverage in my reporting, regardless of my own teacher and union points of view. So I must say, I sensed that she is on a roll, and grimly determined to see it through. In all fairness, the score would seem to be MOE 2, and the unions 2. A tie? OSSTF and ETFO are the 2 largest teacher affiliates. Still, with the TCDSB on side, she seems to have the momentum right now heading towards the homestretch. I'm pretty sure she knows it but is not about to let down her guard. As Education Minister she has certainly hardened and is not quite the Laurel I've known for the past ten years or so. Still, the consistency of character is there. I think she honestly believes that what she is doing is absolutely necessary. I'd be willing to bet she isn't going to back down come hell or high water. Between now and August 31st is a lifetime in politics. Let's see what happens next.

Education Minister Broten announces the MOE AEFO MOU at Queen's Park today. A hat's off to those of you who have said that you saw me on the t.v. reports today. ;-)

NEWS LINKS:

Francophone school board announcement rejecting AEFO agreement because they were cut out of the deal:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-francophone-school-boards-reject-union-deal/article4472807/

Here is the English translation of the AEFO announcement. French text link is below it on AEFO page:
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/BV.aspx?ref=IE8Activity&a=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aefo.on.ca%2F%2FNouvelles.aspx%3FSID%3DE6A8224D-381A-4174-AA95-FF16F1A6C64F%26NewsID%3DwiuaH4C0%2FeAueYv3mDat2g%3D%3D

Here is the AEFO Press Release: http://www.aefo.on.ca/Docs/2012_AUG09_PRESS_Agreement.pdf

Here's a Canadian Press report on the announcement: http://www.cp24.com/news/deal-reached-with-francophone-teachers-union-1.908615

McGuinty responds to protest on Windsor visit. Also to ETFO President Sam Hammond on MOE deadline: http://www.ourwindsor.ca/2012/08/mcguinty-and-duncan-tour-local-school-protesters-oppose-legislation-for-teacher-contracts/

Ottawa Citizen article reports OSSTF and ETFO not about to budge over announcement of AEFO deal:
http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/777633--catholic-board-won-t-back-province-s-deal-with-teachers

Here is a Star report on the "inaccurate information" that raised the Minister's ire during her speech:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/education/article/1239086--catholic-teacher-deal-could-affect-student-achievement-school-boards-say

A London Free Press report on trustee complaints also includes quote from Broten that she was meeting with Ontario public high school teacher union on Wednesday. [must be OSSTF?]:
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2012/08/08/20082111.html

London OSSTF D11 President responds to London Free Press columnist's teacher attack:
http://www.lfpress.com/comment/2012/08/09/20086216.html#.UCUjaFhymTY.facebook

A Local London OECTA unit press release on the situation with their board: http://www.oecta.on.ca/wps/wcm/connect/89a2b3804c4333459630d7abab267fa8/NR-LondonDistConciliation-Aug3.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&lmod=30231023&CACHEID=89a

OSSTF President Ken Coren says OSSTF will accept pay freeze but has proposed new benefits plan and early retirement incentive to help cut costs: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/08/08/teachers-union-says-it-will-accept-pay-freeze

Local OSSTF and ETFO negotiations continue in Hamilton: http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2012/08/09/hamilton-teacher-negotiations.html

Hamilton Catholic board rejects PDT terms over non monetary issues:
http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/777633--catholic-board-won-t-back-province-s-deal-with-
teachers

Niagara Catholic Board rejects MOE time line, will continue scheduled talks with local union this fall:
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2012/08/09/board-will-not-meet-deadline

McGuinty comments on court and party challenges to legislation imposing contract during Kitchener Ottawa visit:
http://www.therecord.com/news/canada/article/777866--mcguinty-won-t-take-no-for-an-answer-when-it-comes-to-deals-with-teachers

This CBC report considers the prospects of a fall Ontario election. It also reports on the Conservatives and the NDP: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/08/09/toronto-teachers-broten.html

Here's the Catholic Register report on the TCDSB agreement: http://www.catholicregister.org/news/toronto-gta/item/14940-tcdsb-ratifies-labour-deal

Keep checking here for more links to come!

TCDSB Agrees to TSU OECTA PDT!

The TCDSB [Toronto Catholic District School Board] last night set an important precedent by becoming the first Catholic school board to agree to CB [Collective Bargaining] negotiations based on the OECTA PDT MOU terms of agreement. As our OECTA TSU members should know, our local CB team has been ready for some time now, so I'd consider the negotiations a go. Will TSU and the TCDSB be able to reach a contract by the MOE's [Ministry of Labour] August 31 deadline? Is that even absolutely necessary? The previous, more reasonable date was set for the beginning of January. Let's see what happens!

Here are some quick fix links to the unfolding story from  the local and provincial media, Twitter, and so on. I have just previously posted an important blog I am hoping you will still read. However, I'm betting that for now, you are looking for info and links to the breaking TCDSB news story. Please do read my last blog. Also note I will add some more commentary to this here posting later, as there are some very important issues I'd like to further bring to your attention. Here then are your quick fix media links:

Here's the official  TCDSB press release. The board emphasizes it has agreed to the PDT terms so as to reduce uncertainty for our students, and to support their parents, staff and community. See:
http://www.tcdsb.org/News/NewsReleases/Documents/2012-08-18_TCDSB_Trustees_Approve_Ontario_Government_Memorandum_of_Understanding_with_Teachers.pdf

The Toronto Star news report also notes that the TCDSB can now also reach it's long sought after goal of eliminating retirement gratuities and our sick bank days. See:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/education/article/1238593--toronto-catholic-board-approves-teacher-deal

The Globe and Mail focuses on the applications for conciliation being made by many of the other boards. They feel that the PDT terms create an irreconcilable gap between them and the local teachers union. See:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/labour-strife-looms-for-mcguinty-as-lone-catholic-board-accepts-deal/article4468819/?cmpid=rss1

This Toronto Sun expresses concern for the school boards, alas, loss of "management rights and due process." under the PDT. Hold your nose and read. See: http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/07/an-unconciliatory-move

I know. I know. Toronto is not the centre of everyone's universe. Meanwhile the Oakville Beaver provides this not so chipper update on the MOE's "unrealistic deadlines" as they affect the Halton District School Board. See:
http://www.insidehalton.com/community/education/article/1456503--deadline-is-unrealistic-educators

The Catholic Register, of course, weighs in on the school board and trustees side. OECTA Provincial President Kevin Dwyer does an excellent job in taking to task the red herring concerns about PDT fair hiring practices and teacher professionalism. Very well done. See:
http://www.catholicregister.org/news/canada/item/14938-oecta-province-agreement-under-fire-from-local-boards

More to come! I'd been working on a blog about the London Catholic board situation and will also use that here. Till later........................

Brock Breaks OECTA "Cone of Silence"!

Oecta Halton Elementary Unit President Richard Brock has become the first member of the Council of Presidents to publicly speak out against our OECT PDT agreement. Richard Brock's comments came on the heels of Premier McGuinty's recent statement that he wants the other Ontario teacher affiliates to voluntarily use the agreement as a PDT "road map" for their own deal, or he will recall Queens Park to legislate the PDT terms for their next contract, by August 31. And so the drama continues! The irascible Brock is quoted in the Globe and Mail as saying;

“It’s a road map to disaster,” Richard Brock, president of the Halton Catholic Elementary Teacher’s Association, said in an interview on Friday. “I’m disgusted and embarrassed by it.” 

Mr. Brock said the union agreed to concessions without seeking “one iota” of input from local bargaining groups. He plans to explore every avenue to unwind it, including going to the province’s Labour Relations Board.

The OECTA PDT consulting process has been very contentious, even among our own membership. Mr. Brock is angry that provincial did not seek "one iota" of input from the local unit CB [Collective Bargaining] committees on the many concessions they agreed upon in our MOU [Memo of Understanding]. He would seem to be perfectly correct on this point with the caveat that the local CB teams were in contact with Provincial during the spring before it was signed. The surprise MOU itself only required the Provincial Executive and COP's consent for ratification purposes on and then after July 5th respectively.

OECTA's PDT process could be changed for future purposes by motions and amendments at our OECTA Spring 2013. The reps from each unit can also express the membership's pleasure or displeasure with the way the deal was made when voting for the next provincial executive at that time. Otherwise, whether one agrees or disagree with President Brock, and the way it was carried out, the OECTA PDT agreement is a done deal.

What was the ratification process? I am including the OECTA PT Timetable from June 21st to July 5th below so you can better  follow what happened at the executive end. You will note that our provincial negotiating team reached an agreement with the MOE at 8:45 am on July 5th. It was approved at an executive meeting held between 10:45 am and 12:30 pm. An OECTA press statement followed at 1pm. There is a timing discrepancy between the MOE and provincial announcements that caused some confusion and concern, but you can read that below. I will defer that for now so as not to digress.

Next, at the July 10 COP [Council of Presidents' Meeting] 42 unit presidents voted for, and 24 against the July 5th OECTA PDT MOU. Members have since privately talked with their different unit presidents to find out how they voted, but most of us wouldn't know, as nothing official has so far been been released. We have not seen the recorded vote made at the in camera COP meeting. Nor have any of the presidents publicly stepped forward to denounce the deal until now.

Our OECTA private member website contains a copy of the MOU, the PDT timetable, a Q+A on the agreement, as well as President Dwyer's provincial letter to the members, and a collection of past CB Bulletins. Most if not all of these have also been previously forwarded by snail and email to the members,
if you have been around to read them. A new posting wasn't added until the letter about the London Catholic Board, dated August 3rd. OECTA Provincial has also emailed out copies. I will address the London issue in my next blog.

President Dwyer and General Secretary Marshall Jarvis have been scheduled for speaking engagements late this month and into September with at least some of our units. We know they will be meeting the Dufferin Peel members on August 23rd. We are awaiting the announcement of a similar Toronto Secondary Unit meeting, currently thought to be in either during the last week of August, or the first week back to school.

It would be my guesstimate, and that's all it is, that any further public announcements by the individual presidents would occur during that time frame. Provincial will ostensibly be coming around then with more information since all of our members will have returned from their summer holidays. Meanwhile those presidents, executives and members who like Richard are "disgusted and embarrassed" will probably have to continue to wait before any further discussion ensues with provincial over whether or not our PDT agreement is "a road map to disaster", as he claims.

The frustration is quite palpable amongst many of the members corresponding with me. I can appreciate Richard Brock's candour. As a TSU executive member, I officially met along with our other officers, to advise President Rene Jansen on how we thought he should vote before COP met. Rene also assured me that he would be making an announcement explaining to our membership how he voted and why. It's been a long wait. It would be my best guess that none of these announcements are scheduled until the end of the month. Then again, President Brock has now broken the silence. What next?

Much of today's info is a rehash of my previous OETA PDT blogs which you can still find in my Blog Archives for July and August. More info on the ratification process can be found on my July 10th blog: What Next?" I told you then that I advised Rene not to vote for the deal. You know the score. Sigh! Alas! My statements are my own. They are supported by publicly available primary resources,documents, statements, info and opinions etc. etc. etc., that are freely and widely available in the mainstream media if not the OECTA site, and so it goes, and on and on and on.

Officially speaking, I don't know what more I can say about OECTA's PDT information strategy. As far as ratification goes, we were all sent Provincials PDT Q+A which states:

Q.  Will I get a chance to vote on the provincial agreement? A.   No. This is a memorandum of understanding between OECTA and the Ministry of Education; this is not a collective agreement. The agreement has been ratified by the OECTA Provincial Executive, who are your elected representatives. You will have a chance to vote on any local agreement that may be negotiated by your local collective bargaining team.

I don't think provincial can be any more blunt than that in explaining the nuts and bolts of the OECTA PDT decision making process. It will be very interesting to see how our members react in the month ahead as we  all return to school after simmering over the OECTA PT for the past two months. The Ontario Liberal, Conservative and NDP political circus will still be carrying on. The MOE August 31 contract deadline will  loom large over everything that happens from here on in. Without doubt, we live in very interesting times. They may be just about to get a whole lot more hot blooded however one might feel about our PDT deal!

Richard Brock will no doubt continue to "explore every avenue" including the Provincial Labour Board to "unwind the deal" from within. Successful or not, one suspects he will not be alone in his quest! Intentional or not, and in my opinion it most certainly is, it seems like there is an "OECTA Cone of Silence" secret mentality hanging over us. My baby boomer readers will recall Agent Maxwell Smart and the Chief always entered the "Cone of Silence" when talking about important, secret matters in the TV Comedy "Get Smart". It was always inevitably to useless effect. Indeed, our own Cone of Silence is certainly creating a lot of anger and suspicion on it's own, by it's very secretive nature, outside our provincial office.

Will our members suspect that where there is smoke there is also fire? Or will they be glad for the way provincial has made and handled the PDT deal in our summer absence? I've discussed my own views on executive accountability and transparency in my "Confidentiality Agreement" blogs last November and December. I distrust big secrets equally of course, be they from the church, the school board, or even our own teachers' union. We are quick to the fight when our school boards act secretively and expect us to just go along with their plans. It is wrong to allow our own association to act the same way, if that's what's happening now, as it most certainly seems.

Do you know how to grow mushrooms? Quite frankly it makes me wince, as I consider the answer, to even suspect that is what is happening here. I can quite easily understand Richard Brock's angst, despite my usual high regard for our OECTA leadership. It's very disconcerting and apt to make one fear for the worst, when we are left in the dark about what's happening, by those who we choose to represent us. These feelings quite naturally take root in the deafening silence. Do good Catholic teachers just willing wait and not question authority because that's what we are told to do? Not me, nor many of the rest of you either! As Maxwell Smart was apt to say, "Sorry about that chief", but we need some good answers, better too soon than too late!

The complete Globe article with Richard Brock is at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ontarios-deal-with-english-catholic-teachers-union-starts-to-crumble/article4462698/

You will note that the Globe article also discusses the trustees, most notably the public school board. I look forward to further commenting on our Catholic Boards, in particular the Lindsey Catholic Board, in my next blog.

You will find the OECTA PDT time table below. It covers up to and including July 5th. As with the the MOE time table from my last blog, you might want to consider the language and information very carefully as you read and begin to compare, for your own erudition, our slim OECTA info piece.

Here it is if you haven't seen it all ready:

June 21, 2012

• A Special Council of Presidents’ meeting is held to provided council members with a detailed and omprehensive understanding of the status of the PDT talks.



June 28, 2012
• OECTA presents the government with a comprehensive offer that meets the government’s fiscal
parameters and achieves real savings, while protecting student learning in the classrooms and is in the
interests of Catholic teachers.

July 4, 2012
• The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association leaves the PDT table at approximately 11:30 p.m.

July 5, 2012 (times are approximate)

• 8:45 a.m.
OECTA signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government.

• 9:30 a.m. 
Unit presidents are notified that both the government and OECTA will hold press conferences to provide an update on the status of the PDT talks.

• 10:30 a.m. 
Minister Broten holds a press conference announcing that an agreement has been reached with OECTA and provides a significant level of detail about the agreement.While the Minister’s press conference is taking place, the OECTA Provincial Executive meets to consider the MOU signed earlier in the morning. The Provincial Executive is required to ratify the MOU prior to release of any information to unit presidents. This meeting was held from approximately 10:45 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m.


• 12:40 p.m.
Unit and OTBU presidents are notified that the agreement was ratified by the Provincial Executive and are provided with OECTA’s news release regarding the agreement.

• 1:00 p.m.
OECTA President Kevin O’Dwyer holds a press conference at OECTA provincial office as the OECTA news release is distributed to news outlets and posted on the OECTA website.

• 2:20 p.m.
Unit and OTBU presidents are provided with a letter to members from the president and a chart providing details about the agreement. Both of these are posted on the OECTA members-only website and will be mailed to each member.

Get Smart? "The Code of Silence" Model #1:

Model #2 Alternate: Even more private but don't forget your breath mints!

Marshall! Kevin! What's with our OECTA Cone of Silence anyway? Enquiring minds need to know!

The last word? See the reader "Comments" link below my last blog......

ETFO + MOE: Sparks Fly!

Sparks flew when ETFO [Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario] met with the MOE [Ministry of Education] on August 2nd in an attempt to restart their stalled PDT [Provincial Discussion Table] talks! For an overview see: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2012/08/03/teachers-union-head-upset-over-stalled-talks

Here's the ETFO press release: http://www.controlyourfuture.ca/etfo_news/president-hammond-meets-with-minister-of-education/

For a point by point breakdown of the discussion visit the EFTO website at: http://www.controlyourfuture.ca/

[By the way, if we compare ETFO's regular member updates, with the support documents attached, to those on our our own OECTA site, what do we see? Last time I visited the member's area there were still only a small handful of articles mostly dating back to early July. Tch! Tch!]

Essentially it seems the MOE told ETFO if they want a deal to come to back with something based upon the OECTA "road map" agreement. As we know ETFO is opposed to the terms of the deal. The discussion then focused on the new August 31 deadline for contracts to be in place. Neither the MOE or ETFO seem to have made any progress with their diametrically opposed positions on either issue. What happens when metal meets metal? Sparks fly!

The MOE and Mr. McGuinty's fear of a school strike come September 3 have been categorically rejected by all the teacher affiliates. Still, the media is game to mostly play along with the government statements from last week. They proved useful to justify why the Liberals are now moving the contract deadline ahead for the school boards. Perhaps the Globe and Mail editorial is still worth a rare thinkful news read, but these are few and far between. See: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/start-of-ontarios-school-year-in-jeopardy-if-labour-talks-stall/article4449756/

Here is the MOE's response to the breakdown in it's talks with the other affiliates since July 5th OECTA PDT agreement:. http://unionhost.ca/uploads/Communication-from-Minister-Jul23-2012.pdf

Here is the full text of the MOE's Funding Framework For Local Bargaining: http://unionhost.ca/uploads/B13E-Memo.pdf

From the MOE's perspective the PDT talks have gone on far too long. See their time line account of the progress and lack of progress to date. It's worth considering the wording and focus used. I will be further examining the various time line's currently in circulation soon. Meanwhile see: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/nr/12.07/bg0730.html

Commentary: Both ETFO and OSSTF [the Ontario Secondary School Teacher Federation] said as early as this June, that they were going to begin start taking strike votes later this month and next. A strike vote, of course, would allow the affiliates to commence a wide variety of job actions, for example work to rule, and escalate or step up the ante, to a full blown work stoppage, or strike.

The MOE probably sees this as a strategic way to increase pressure on the government to reach a deal with them, on the affiliates terms. Still, it also let's the affiliates be able to claim that they haven't said they are actually going to strike. They've been clear that it certainly won't be next month when classes resume as well.

What to do? The Liberal government set an unrealistic deadline for contracts to be in place by August 31. Legally speaking, it's seems uncertain whether the existing teacher contracts would simply roll over giving everybody, but OECTA, a 5.5% raise in pay. Still the government is strategically letting everyone know the prospect is unacceptable by overplaying it's hand, with it's latest accusations and deadline demands.

By claiming he'll recall the legislature to pass the MOE's PDT terms into law, without ETFO and OSSTF's consent, Mr. Guinty is taking a gamble. It is uncertain, if not highly unlikely that either the NDP [New Democratic Party] or Conservative parties would support any such legislation put forth by the Liberal minority government. Andrea Horwath hasn't been overtly active in the PDT debate, but the NDP are not going to risk voting against their union support, while Tim Hudak's Conservatives have let it be known they think the OECTA PDT Agreement is not anti-union enough.

A simple abstention could let the legislation pass allowing the real political jockeying to take place this fall when everybody is normally back at the legislature from summer holidays for business as usual. Still it would seem a spineless act for either the Conservatives and/ or the NDP to take. Mr. McGuinty could come across as a reminted strong premier willing to take the unions to task. Such a hard line position would seem a lot more easier for the soft conservative Ontario voter to take, in contrast to the ultra right wing Wisconsin style anti-union stance of the Hudak Conservatives. Tim's recent grandstanding can still quite arguably bring back ugly memories of the strike plagued Harris years in the minds of the average man and woman on the streets with a little persuasion.

While Ms Horwath's NDP dithers on taking a strong, openly pro-active teacher union stance, either way she loses. Vote yes for the Liberal legislation and she loses her union support like Bob Rae did. Vote no and she seems to be pandering to the "big, bad unions in the public eye. It's a delicate balancing act. If she stumbles we all could be plunged back into the Harris years.

Opposition leader Mr. Tim Hudak's Conservatives certainly wouldn't vote yes. It would alienate his hardcore right wing base, who are back contentedly lapping up his rabid, anti labour, fear mongering sentiments as of late. If he votes no, he positions himself further from the safe centre right position in which Ontario elections are usually either lost or won.

Should either party vote against the McGuinty Liberal's PDT legislation, the prospects might look good for the minority government party, which becomes the only "reasonable voice" in Ontario politics. Then again, the Liberals also risk creating a real muddle for themselves, and us as teachers, in the fall legislature. If he fails with his tough guy act, Mr. Guinty could well provide Mr. Hudak with an empty political stage to play his much stronger, anti union posture to greater effect. He could quite conceivably gain a lot of public support to crack down on the "bad union thugs", perhaps once and for all, with his much touted anti-union, labour plans, should the minority government fall anytime soon. No doubt there is a lot at stake with this fall's two by-election results!

As teacher union members we know the strong arguments for the good fight to protect our contracts. However, even our various critiques of the Drummond Report and the government's actions thereafter, as obvious as they might seem, are not necessarily convincing to a easily susceptible public during hard economic times. The media can easily turn our pay and benefits against us in the public opinion polls. The weak underlying economic assumption that our teacher contracts are somehow responsible as a scapegoat for the provincial debt during the current world economic crisis is dubious at best. Still, consider the results of the Toronto Sun's recent mock poll on whether the province should pass legislation banning teacher strikes. Sure it's easy to stack an open website poll whichever way you want. Don't think for a minute that the Sun and the other prevelent right wing media aren't all ready scheming to help the Hudak Conservatives create Wisconsin North in the province of Ontario, as per their obvious, often powerful and long standing leanings. See the poll results at:  http://www.torontosun.com/poll/should-the-province-pass-legislation-to-ensure-teachers-do-not-go-on-strike

When anybody "puts their foot down" in political game playing, they then also risk sticking it in their mouth. Perhaps OECTA is politically astute to have made a deal in early summer, and  then hope the members' sentiments will simmer without much said until General Secretary Marshall Jarvis and President Kevin O'Dwyer make the rounds of the local units this fall, showing in retrospect, how it was the best solution. Then again, maybe not! At the risk of being cliche, two months is a lifetime in politics. Anything can happen, and often will. I'll consider the prospects further, with your indulgance, in my next blog.

As with life and art, politics is often an optical illusion.

Please note: frequently explaining our Ontario teacher acronyms is necessary

for my foreign readers, most notably in the US, Great Britain, Europe, Russia [!?] and Cuba.

A Summer Cottage Interlude

The Civic Day long weekend! It's a very Canadian tradition to go to the cottage at least once every summer, and so we did. A simple summer place by the side of a royal blue lake with lush green foliage all around. The Maple and mighty Douglas Fir trees sprawling along the shoreline. A wooden dock. Muskoka chairs, a simple but ingeniously Canadian cottage country design. A broad, comfortable wooden fan back, with rear incline and broad arm rests to hold your book, a sandwich, a cold drink. What-have-you.

Frequent refreshing dips in a crystal clear freshwater lake, a paddle boat, canoe or air mattress always at your disposal. Children splashing in the water. The family dogs racing about, in and out of the water. Friendly neighbourly visits back and forth across the lake. The small tree lined islands. The rugged outcrops of the Canadian shield, sheer rock cliff fronts in some cases, or a nice natural rock incline in others, to lie and sun on beside the water.

Endless blue skies. Puffy cumulus clouds. The Barbecue; burgers, hot dogs, chicken or steak anyone? The occasional rain break to send everyone scurrying back to the porch for some family chat and fun. No thunder? Back into the lake! You are going to get wet anyway.

More? Frequent naps whenever you want. A motorboat for far out on the lake. A fishing rod. A campfire. A kazillion stars at night. Rate Canada cottage country in summer 5 stars plus for it's sheer rustic northern beauty, joy, and warm pleasant laid back feel!

Janet and I escaped the heavy midsummer dogs days of Toronto, fleeing east on highway 401, then north along highway 35 deep into the Muskoka lakes and woods.We spent a few days with friends at their cottage on Gull Lake in the Haliburton  highlands, Minden Hills. I took off my watch, turned off my computer and cell phone. We were in summer free fall! It felt great! If you were at a cottage country retreat, you will know what I mean. If you are a foreign reader, come to Canada and experience it sometime. Here's to wishing everyone a great long weekend!

A weekend at the cottage................................................

MOE's PDT Deadline + OSSTF + ETFO's Response!

[New links added August 2nd. See below.]

Surely this blog's title must provide an all time record of sorts for acronyms! So far most of my recent PDT coverage has focused on our OECTA PDT deal, most recently with the Catholic Principals and Trustees
response. Today's will provide links and some discussion about the continuing hard line struggle of our colleagues at OSSTF and ETFO.

As you should know the Ontario MOE [Ministry of Education] has gone public with it's demands that the teacher unions reach PDT [Provincial Discussion Table] agreements before school resumes in September. Now it seems that the school boards must also reach contracts with the unions based upon the PDT terms by then, and not by December 31, as has been previously outlined in the Ministry perimeters.

The MOE's expressed concern now is that current contracts will simply "roll over" and continue at an unacceptable cost if new contracts are not reached by August 31, when they expire. They also are responding to upcoming ETFO and ETFO strike votes, claiming they will disrupt classes come September. The main focus of the MOE's accusations seems to be that the unions are not bargaining in good faith. OSSTF and ETFO are adamantly disputing the Ministry claims, and have since issued strong statements explaining why, the links for which are provided below;


Here's a link to the MOE's July 30 press announcement that there will be no "rollover" of existing contracts after August 31 when our current contracts ones expire. If PDT agreements are not reached by then, they will be legislated, seemingly as per the MOE's initial terms: http://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2012/07/ontario-reaches-another-education-deal.html

Here''s an audio link to Education Minister Laurel Broten's CBC Q+A:
http://www.cbc.ca/ontariotoday/


Here's a good summary link for OSSTF [Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation] President Ken Coran's response to the announcement: http://www.osstf.on.ca/Default.aspx?DN=eeaf6754-ca4a-4a51-939b-5fce46ac9d8c

Also see: http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/-1685734.htm

Here's another for ETFO [Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario] Sam Hammond's response; http://www.controlyourfuture.ca/

Here's Premier McGuinty's latest August 2nd claim he will recall the legislature this month before school starts if necessary: http://www.cp24.com/news/mcguinty-won-t-rule-out-recalling-legislature-this-month-to-impose-new-teachers-contracts-1.901469

Some further considerations:

Compare the TDSB [Toronto District School Board] trustee response with their Catholic counterparts as discussed in my last PDT blog. Alas, in our case, I still don't feel the love, there is just so much else at play. Here is the TDSB trustees response. To me it seems more positive towards the teacher unions in general: http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/video/217453

By the way, here is OSSTF President Coran's response to the article on the Catholic trustees in the Toronto Star: http://www.osstf.on.ca/Default.aspx?DN=eeaf6754-ca4a-4a51-939b-5fce46ac9d8c

Meanwhile back in Tim's sTory Land:

Here are "the facts" from Conservative Leader Tim Hudak's website showing how the Liberals are are actually giving a $7000 pay raise with the OECTA PDT Agreement, something he would never do, by golly, because it's going to drive the province to financial ruin. Read and weep at his stupidity. Then consider what he would do if the government falls and he is elected to reign in the unions, as promised. Sarcastic I know, but we HAVE been there before. See:
http://www.ontariopc.com/media/2012/08/OECTA-Technical-Backgrounder.pdf

UAW [United Auto Workers] square off with Hudak's Tory plans to "modernize Ontario's outdated labour laws" by "Modifying Rand" as a part of his "Path to Prosperity: Flexible Labour Markets" policy paper. OFL [Ontario Federation of Labour] President Sid Ryan responds: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/07/27/43146/ 

And in other news:

Here's a popular opinion piece from the Kitchener Record that's making the cyber-rounds: http://www.therecord.com/mobile/opinion/article/771794--liberals-failure-puts-pressure-on-school-boards#.UBk9ZScbVp

Here's an unverified Twitter link for educators opposed to the MOE's PDT demands: 
Teachers Unite!@Teachers_Gather.

A salute to you our brothers and sisters at OSSTF and ETFO ! I haven't any special expertise on your affairs, and make no such claims. However I do know that many of our OECTA teachers are NOT happy with what's happened at our end. They want more info on what's still happening on the front lines. If this blog helps our other affiliate readers in any way also, while we are all off doing summer things, I am honoured.

Special thanks to the Twitter Tweets and TSU Rep Angela Tersigni's excellent local JCM [James Cardinal McGuigan CSS] member updates for many of these links while I have been away. Yes, I am back from Mexico after a full day mostly spent in airports before and after the relatively short flight. Yesterdays storm certainly seemed to create havoc at Toronto's Pearson Airport!

By the way Angie, how about a summer guest blog?!? :-)

I will return over the next few days to edit and add to this blog, but wanted to get these links to you asap.

Be sure you are "in the know" for when we go back to school in September!!! Stay tuned!