Public elementary and high school teachers are in the midst of job action across Ontario and education unions are set to ramp up their protest of Bill 115 — a piece of legislation that could impose a two-year contract on educators and make it easier for the government to end strikes.
The players:
- Education Minister Laurel Broten
- Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO). The union has 76,000 members.
- Ken Coran, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF). The union has 60,000 members.
- Fred Hahn, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The union represents 55,000 education workers including custodians, secretaries, educational assistants and library staff.
- Warren “Smoky” Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). The union represents 130,0000 education workers.
Timeline:
Sept. 11, 2012: Bill 115 passes in the provincial legislature.
Oct. 11, 2012: Four education unions launch legal challenge of Bill 115.
Dec. 4, 2012: Public elementary teachers finish voting on holding a one-day political protest.
Dec. 7, 2012: ETFO could start issuing 72-hours notice of rotating one-day strikes.
Dec. 10, 2012: Public elementary and public high school teachers across the province will stop participating in all extracurricular and volunteer activities.
Dec. 31, 2012: Deadline for local collective bargaining between unions and school boards.
What is Bill 115?
The Liberals’ legislation, also known as the Putting Students First Act, was passed on Sept. 11 with the support of the Progressive Conservatives.
Click here to read the full text of the bill.
Click here to read the OSSTF response to the bill.
It allows the government to impose a two-year contract on teachers that includes a two-year wage freeze, a 50-per-cent reduction in educators’ sick days from 20 to 10 and ends teachers’ ability to bank unused sick days. But most controversially, it gives Broten the power to end a strike or lockout without debating the issue in the provincial legislature.
What’s the deadline?
The unions and school boards have until Dec. 31 to reach local agreements within strict parameters as set out by the government. If deals aren’t negotiated by then, the government will impose a contract.
What do unions say about the bill?
The unions have described the legislation as “undemocratic” and “draconian” and an attack on their right to collective bargaining.
Some other union complaints, according to the ETFO, about the legislation include:
- it gives cabinet the power to extend the provisions of the bill beyond the two-year term without debate in the legislature
- it gives the minister of education “unprecedented” powers to change negotiated contracts between unions and school boards
The legislation is based on an agreement between the province and the Ontario Catholic English Teachers’ Association (OECTA).
What does the government say about the bill?
The Liberals insisted the legislation was needed to rein-in spending amid a $15-billion deficit, while maintaining their full-day kindergarten plan.
When the bill was introduced in September, Broten said the legislation contains “tools within it to respond to provincial work-to-rule circumstances.”
She said was “confident” the legislation can withstand a court challenge and said the move is reasonable under the province’s current financial circumstances.
Does Bill 115 ban strikes?
No. Unions are still able to hold strike votes and action as mandated under the Ontario Labour Relations Act. What Bill 115 does is give the provincial cabinet the power to enact back-to-work measures without debate in the legislature.
How are unions fighting it?
Four education unions — ETFO, the OSSTF, CUPE and OPSEU — filed court challenges on Oct. 11.
The ETFO and OSSTF encouraged members to withdraw from some administrative and ministry-related duties after the legislation was enacted.
When could job action be taken?
Both unions are instructing members not to participate in extracurricular activities as of Dec. 10, as well as some administrative and ministry-related duties. This means Christmas concerts will have to be held within the school day and after-school sports and field trips will be cancelled.
The ETFO plans to hold a day of protest, although the date hasn’t been determined. President Sam Hammond said the union plans to hold rolling one-day strikes and parents could start receiving 72 –hours notice of that action as early as Dec. 7.
What kind of actions could a school board take in response to strike action?
According to the Waterloo Region District School Board, “the options available to employers with unionized employees engaging in legal strike action include adjusting pay, and in the most extreme cases, lockout employees.”
What does it mean for Toronto students?
The Toronto District School Board said teachers will still be conducting parent-teacher interviews and filling out report cards. However, some activities – like Christmas concerts – are canceled at some schools.
What does it mean for York students?
According to the York Region District School Board website, extra-curricular activities are affected.
What does it mean for Durham students?
Teachers are taking job actions in the schools, according to the Durham District School Board website.
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It doesn’t matter if you love teachers or you hate teachers. It doesn’t matter if you don’t care about teachers at all. What everyone should be concerned about is the government and their new tactic of “convenience laws” that violate pre-existing laws. The government has targeted a specific group of people and are rallying hatred towards them while they enacted legislation that violates pre-existing human and legal rights. *THAT* is what this is about. *THAT* is the whole problem. If you take away all the ‘he said,’ ‘she said’ and whom is involved, and any of the side issues (nobody cared whether extras were happening until they weren’t anyway) then you boil it all down to the above statement. And no, it doesn’t matter that they said they’re repealing the law. They’ve used it. It’s too late. Now, whenever people refuse to do something the government wants, they will enact legislation that tramples those people’s rights in order to make them do what was wanted; and once the people do it, the government will repeal the law, thus saving themselves from any responsibility or legal challenge. That is simply terrifying. I guess if I wondered what it was like to live with a dictatorship that the general public tacitly approved of … I now know
You know what I think…people are jealous of teachers! Teachers did not make the school calendar. The summers are off not because they choose them to be off, but because that is just the way it is. However, I would hope that teachers do not choose the profession because they get the summers off either. If that is the case, I believe there would be more teachers quitting the profession. The teachers that are true to their profession are the ones that stay in it for a long long time because the love they have for the job is what keeps them going (Not the politics). In order to make and keep a career/vocation as a teacher, you have to be someone special. I know many parents who can’t handle their own kids. Teachers spend day in and day out with at least 20 of them. The time that teachers put in on a daily basis, from September to end of June is 150 per cent. When they are there, they are THERE. Teachers can’t stop for 5 minutes to sit down at their desk and enjoy one sip of coffee. Whereas in other jobs, people have a lot more flexibility. I know people that work in the corporate world too. Many of them take extra long lunches. And those that do not, bank the hours and use them for a friday off, or at least for a half day off. There are many perks in the corporate world too. I know people who make 6 digit incomes – a lot more money than want teachers make.
I am a parent and I have volunteered in my child’s classroom. The teacher did not sit down once, except to do a read-aloud. She also did not have the freedom to go to the bathroom, until it was lunchtime. But then at lunch, she continued marking/planning. She had also kept 3 students in to catch up on some work. I know, I was there to help out with one of them. Oh and she did not use recess time to go to the bathroom because she had to be outside for duty.
Oh and by the way, everyone talks about the taxpayers dollar. HELLO ignorant people! Teachers are taxpayers too!!! Do people forget that? In a way, they are essentially paying themselves.
I have to say that I feel for teachers because very few people respect them. Come on, show some respect and stop maligning them all the time!!! Be thankful for teachers.
Schools are open more than you think
The public system has changed in recent years. We are open for business more than you think. Here’s what the Peel District Public School Board has to offer: standard Sept to end of June schools; new year round schools; summer school for the entire month of July; schools open last week of August for registration by teachers; night school Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday classes; Saturday for credit classes; on-line school; special schools for students having trouble in regular classes; schools for new mothers; on-line math help by teachers available every Sunday through Thursday 5:30 to 9:30 pm; marking all those EQAO standardized grade 3, 6, 9 and 10 tests in English and Math in the summer. Teachers work many different jobs and hours and are ONLY paid for the hours they work. Also it is a 12 year pay grid to get to the top. During that time teachers MUST return to university at their own cost to reach the top. After teaching two years they return to university at night, on-line or in the summer and only then are they eligible to move up the grid. You may not support teachers but that’s ok. Teachers are not fighting for you to like them. When they gave you homework or that detention it wasn’t so you would like them either it was because it was the right thing to do. The Liberal and Conservative government were very clear to the public and teachers that this is the FIRST step of imposing public sector contracts and that police, firefighters and other public sector workers are next. Most firefighters work only two 24 hour days a week and police have a 4 year pay grid compared to teachers 12 year pay grid. Will you hate them as well? I don’t. I respect everyone’s choice of education and career. We all do our homework on different careers and get educated accordingly. For some the dream comes alive for others it does not. Most careers are very competitive. You may hate Teachers and in time your anger will turn to Police and Firefighters once they also feel their own Bill 115. The question is do you hate them more than you love democracy? Do you think everyone should make a welfare wage? As a teacher, at the end of this fight I don’t expect to get what I lost back but I won’t sit back and say I hope they screw everyone else as well. I’ll fight for the public and private sector workers that have not been attacked yet.
i SUGGEST TO ALL THOSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HATE TEACHERS OR JEALOUS OF TEACHERS’ JOBS, PLEASE GO QUALIFY AND BECOME A TEACHER AND ENJOY YOUR WONDERFUL LIFE! GOOD LUCK!
Why are you comparing jobs??? OBVIOUSLY, people in different jobs have different incomes and benefits. I did not make sacrifices to pay for my university education to earn the same money the average person does. Teachers work on a 10 month contract (income is divided by 12 months in a year) so yes, when it’s July and August am not working but a pay check comes home ( that’s because I already earned that money ). I wish all of you misinformed people would spend a day in my shoes as a teacher, then maybe you would realize how things really are like. School ends at 3:15pm for the kids but I am working VERY hard everyday until 5 and sometimes 6 pm. I also do school work at home on my weekends. As a teacher, I don’t sit on my ass all day; I am constantly multi-tasking and at the end of the day I sometimes realize that I haven’t even had the chance to go to the washroom ( BELIEVE IT OR NOT). For all of you that think I am spoiled, come and volunteer at a school that has students with high needs for a few days in a row. When you start feeling overwhelmed and stressed ( burned out ), I think you will probably see things in a different light. I am NOT going to be quiet when my rights are being taken away and neither would any of you if you were in my shoes. All of you concerned about the children, stop blaming the teachers and start taking political action. Protest Bill 115 and start directing your anger at the right source.
I believe we live in a Country where we have too many rights. When unions began it had to do with hours, wages, and over all working conditions. Not sick leave, 2 year wage freeze, standing outside holding up a sign while children at home are not being educated. Saying to Canadian citizens that this is violating EVERYONES rights is garbage. Stop making this a bigger issue because stomping your feet isn’t getting you anywhere. While you’re complaining every time something doesn’t go your way you’re affecting children’s rights. I’m sure if they fully understood what was happening they would be striking against you! There are many students graduating and having a hard time getting a teaching position. I’m sure they would take your job in a heart beat. Because ultimately they would have one.
I do not like the ability of the goverment to summarily end strikes without debate. I also do not like teachers griping about losing banked sick days.
I’m just some Post-Secondary Student. I just wanted to say a few things however.
First, someone had written that most young adults going into Post Secondary to become a teacher are doing it for the summers off. Before making that assumption, I’d like some real data on that; especially a correct, unbias sampling space. Personally, I had wanted to become a teacher as a young kid, and I had no idea of wages, benefits and so on. Since growing up, many of my friends in the fourth to sixth grade wanted to become a teacher. Either they enjoyed helping others, or they had found it fun.
Typically, there will always be the individuals who want to a job simply for the perks, but you can not make such an assumption like that. It is unfair.
Secondly, someone was complaining about how teachers don’t have a set schedule and they should.
Think of their job like management. They are not necessarily paid by the hour, but paid for the amount of work they complete by a certain deadline. Whether they choose to spend the couple hours marking at six or at three, it is still being done. They spend a lot of time and effort putting together lessons. They make up for leaving right at the end of school on Fridays.
The school boards have addressed the fact that headlines are misleading the population. They do not have a problem with wage freeze. Sure, they were a little annoyed by the sick days, but it was understandable. However, it would have been a better approach to keep these banked sick days for the older teachers. They had been promised this from the beginning, and it is unfair to see it go away in the blink of the eye. Those new, or somewhat new, would not have had such a big impact. From my high school experience (I was in three different districts), my teachers rarely took sick days as it was. They were still fulfilling their duties to the taxpayers, and most importantly, their students.
What bothers me the most about this bill is the fact that they can not question whether it is constitutional valid, or if it goes against the human rights code. That alone should set alarms off in our heads. Why would they not be able to question? Because it buys them time? it makes a scene? Maybe it could be the fact that it actually does go against these rights!
I feel like this is just the beginning. Call me a skeptic, but I guess we will wait and see.
Losing democratic rights? Seriously?
What about the children’s democratic rights to an uninterrupted education?
Luckily, my democratic rights do not allow me to fire all in disagreement with Bill 115 and start will all new appreciative and eager teachers!
Teachers have been spoiled for too long!
Pay freeze for 2 years:
Whether Teachers want to acknowledge it or not, they are paid much more than double (almost triple) than what the parents of the kids in their classrooms earn.
Hmmm, what is $80,000 divided by 39 weeks anyway?
If teachers are not happy with this, they are greedy.
Reduction in vacation pay:
With 2 weeks at Christmas, March break and Summers off, how dare they even ask for any percentage for vacation pay as well!
20 sick days being reduced to 10:
Teachers are lucky enough to have ANY sick days!
Most Canadians (especially those paying the wages if the Teachers) do not have the luxury of being paid when they are legitimately sick!
Never mind banking those days, they are for the purpose of when you are actually sick!
The fact that they previously had 4 weeks of sick days on top of the 13 weeks they have off per year is outrageous! This makes a total of 17weeks off for vacaction and sick days, now being reduced to 15 weeks! Oh the hardship!
This bill was good enough for separate school board teachers, why must the public school teachers behave like greedy and spoiled brats?!
That is an absolutely ridiculous comment. Teachers earn three times that of the parents of the students in their class? As a first year teacher, I earn just under 45 a year. That’s after 5 years of University and time abroad and here accumulating volunteer experience. I worked my tail off to become a teacher because I love helping people try to make themselves better. I think that’s worth an investment. If you want teachers to earn minimum wage incomes, expect minimum wage quality education. But as you say, you don’t care, you’ve already gone through the system.
Your salary may be 45k as a first year teacher, however, chances of it doubling in 5 years is way more possible than that of a parent making the same wage. I have friends who are teachers (each in different school districts) and all of them have hit the 65k area in their third year.
Please let me start by saying that I commend GOOD teachers. They spend more time with our children than we do, and I have been lucky enough that the ones who have taught my daughter thus far have been pretty great. They really do want the best for our kids, and I agree that teachers are worth an investment. However, though you may disagree with “SpoiledTeachers” comments, they are not ridiculous. Unfortunately, the fact is that the average teacher’s salary is $80,000 and the median salary in Ontario is less than $30,000. I don’t believe he/she was suggesting that teachers should make minimum wage, but many parents of school aged children do. There are not very many jobs where your starting wage is $40,000 a year, and most certainly not one where you have more than 2 months in vacation per year, or where you have STAT holidays off and work Monday-Friday with no shifts. I believe that we need to make our teachers happy in order to best teach our children, but at what cost? I have issues with Bill 115, but I have just as many issues with our kids suffering being a means to an end.
I won’t get into the business of average salaries any longer between teachers and the parents of their students. Really, it’s a fairly irrelevant comparison. Suppose my students parents are unemployed or on EI, does that mean that my salary should be reduced to reflect a similar income?
But the bigger issue I have is when people talk about the time off as though somehow teachers created the school calendar. It is a reflection of our priorities as a society that we deem the summer months time for vacation, particularly for students. But ultimately, what bothers me most about posts like this, about how great teachers have it, is that unless you are a teacher, or live with one, you have NO idea what the job entails. Especially when you find a teacher working in a high needs community or in a school with small numbers. I’m not a whiner or complainer, I do my job with pride and to the absolutely best of my ability. That is more than I can say for the “average” government employee. I can say that with certainty as I worked in Public Service before teaching and it was STARTLING to see the lack of care and attention people put into their work. I was actually taken aside at one point and told, to “slow down” so that I didn’t set a bad precedent of efficiency.
But as a teacher, I work with Grade 8 students in a low-income community. I have 35 kids in my class, 19 of which are reading below grade level, 15 are below level in all strands of math, I have 2 autistic children, and 5 who are labelled with Learning and Behavioural Disabilities. Several live in foster care or with extended family as their parents are out of the picture. They don’t have pencils at home, let alone books or elders who can help them with their homework, so they simply don’t do it. Their association with school is negative, and so they behave in a way that is clear they don’t want to be there, but have to be. That is the environment I work in. How many times a day could you be told that your best efforts are “F%$@ing Stupid” or that “This is lame” before you lost steam. I don’t give up on my students despite that reality. But I bet if a teacher who was paid less, who went through less to attain the position, who knew that the public didn’t value their efforts, WOULD give up. And that’s what we’re talking about. We’re not talking about the summer or the STAT holidays. We’re talking about people who are willing to love those that usually don’t love them back. So, keep your money, I just want your respect and understanding.
At the end of the day, the kids are the ones who have been taken hostage in this mess. The union knows that if they hit people where it hurt (children) they’ll have more bargaining power and that’s what really ticks me off. Some teachers who want to resume activities have been told not to by the union even though they can’t legally dictate what they do in their free time. We all have highschool memories that we share with our kids, it’s a shame that my kids will be sharing all this BS one day to explain why they didn’t have a prom.
I find myself laughing at everybody who thinks this is about the money. while many older teachers do care about losing banked sick days (who can blame them?) the majority of this argument is about the restriction of democratic rights, not the money. In fact, the OSSTF offered a 0% pay increase from the beginning.
I woke up and smelled the coffee “See the Whole Picture Bob”.
Auto workers are not public sector and aren’t part of this; never were. It’s different in the private sector. Do some research. Secondly…. my postal union? They were on strike every year when I was a kid and I know what they made annually. Thankfully they’re less powerful now.
I see my educational tax dollars paying for 20 sick days… bad idea.
My kids were off for two weeks in the 90′s due to a teacher strike and I saw the attitude first hand.
You’re telling the overtaxed strike-trauma’d public to wake up? You wake up!
Fire all of the teachers and hier replacement teachers just like U.S. Presiednt Regan did with the Air Traffic Controllers in the U.S.
They comments above are great.
The video link someone posted is not worth watching. It is a message about changing policy for a greener planet, i guess trying to spark a “revolutionary” response from its viewers to rally against government in this case. Ironic, since the video suggest policy needs to be changed, yet the ads the teachers (and taxpayers) are paying for right now are saying the opposite.
Aside from all the hoopla that is being tossed. I think it is worth mentioning the two tell-tale signs that I see everyday that make my decision to back the government easy.
First… Ask a recent high school grad why they want to become a teacher and go to teachers college. The number one answer is because “they get summers off”, probably number two is “the sweet pension” and number three (maybe) is that they like working with children, but probably not. If you ask me, most teachers choose to be teachers for the wrong reasons. I think this bill is a step towards correcting that.
Second…. Why are so many public school teachers putting their kids into private schools. I see it all the time. Do teachers really make that much money ? Do they really have that little faith in the system in which they work, and which currently spends so much to hire only the best?
I think everyone (teachers included) should spend a month as a server in the restaurant industry. It might just put some perspective on what is realistic.
It’s a Sad day for Ontarians. How majority of Ontarians are so studid, to believe that Bill 115 was about the children. You are so blind! It was about Union Busting and taking the voice away from the Union Members.
Watch out Ontario Unions, CUPE, CAW, etc the Liberial have formed a dictatorship in this province. And for the people sitting on the side lines thinking the Ontario Government has Ontarians at heart. I say WAKE UP and smell the coffee. You should of spoken out the moment Dalton Mcguinty prorogue parliament. We as a people should of requested the The Lieutenant Governor of Ontaio disolve Parliament and force a provinical election. Since Bill 115 executed, essentially making it an ACT; the Liberial Government now use the precident of Bill 115 so can go after every Public Service Union and beyond. Hmmm, maybe Our newly Canadians and Ontarians didn’t teach us well enough why they left their countries, or the complacent Ontarians failed their Grade 9/10 History & Policial Sciences classes. Now you don’t have to only feel sorry for the children, think about your postal person, the auto worker, the border patrol guard, the air pilot or yourself. Yes you, you may not be unionize, but the Liberial Government took steps for your employer to exploit your life.
To all those “critics” who think they know the true story behind the ramifications on Bill 115, then you have turned a blind eye to what the government is really trying and succeeding to do to this province’s hard working class people. And the government is not just “attacking” unionized workers who “make too much money”. Teachers, teacher assistants, food service workers, secretaries and custodians have respectively earned the wages and working conditions they have today. That group of people are not expecting anything MORE from the government, they (we) are simply defending those rights to keep them.
If you really want to have your eyes opened and see what the government has been doing for years to this economy and the families that live in it then check out http://www.thestoryofstuff.com. Take 20 minutes from your day to watch this video and realize the bigger picture behind the governments decisions!!!
The current government has been more than reasonable to teachers over their tenure in office. Daulton, a former teacher, has given till it hurt. The overpaying of our Unions is hurting, and I’m certain we would still have an abundance of people applying for our teaching positions even if the salary was $20,000 less a year. As a matter of fact it was a lot less until Daulton took our money to your bank and now the teachers stab him in the back. Bill 115 gave the teachers Union till December 31 to negotiate in good faith and come to an agreement. Seems reasonable to me given our provinces economic circumstances. The fact that teachers are teaching their views to our students as pawns in their struggle is disgraceful and they should feel ashamed. I’ve asked people what they think about your “Job Action” and, unfortunately, haven’t found a whole lot of sympathy for the teachers position. You claim imposing a contract is against the right to collective bargain, yet forget your pay has increased by some 25% over the past years under Daulton. So we only ask you to give something back like the rest of us Peter. Quit teaching our kids about how NOT to resolve conflict, and suck up the bad economics like the rest of us. This is not about collective bargaining or a deal would have been brokered. I keep hearing your Union say it’s not about money yet, given time, nothing has been done. If your Union wanted a REASONABLE deal, it would have been done. I don’t support a number of our current Liberal governments initiatives, yet also believe we can’t continue running this type of deficit as a result of our current debt. The solution is for the public sector to give back. When things were good, you got, now that they aren’t, give a bit. It won’t kill you Peter, trust me.
Yes, all the public sector workers need to take a pay cut just like the rest of us have. I’ve had too, most of my friends have, yet the PUBLIC sector Unions think they are above the very real economic conditions. Give the rhetoric a rest and be grateful for the great job you’ve been offered Peter. Teach our children that education matters. Stay after class and keep our children off the streets, and for Gods sake Peter, when you’re sick, stay home instead of propagating sick in your work place. No one is indispensable, so when you are sick, take the day off. That’s why we give you sick days, for when you are genuinely sick.
There is nothing Poor about teachers Peter
Bill 115…Undemocratic?! It’s a Job not a Country!
I’ve worked my entire life, so far, in the private sector. Where I had to produce or be let go or fired. I was never fired, but was let go.The last recession closed down the company. I didn’t get a vote on that!
I am glad to see government FINALLY trying to curb union powers.Unions have served their purpose. Now they are just a way for lazy,unmotivated people to keep their over paid jobs. Don’t get me wrong. I DO appreciate the labour laws they helped create. Should unions have the power to bring society and cities to their knees? I DON’T! Why should they?
Years back Vaughan Hydro was on strike. One of their union members drilled precise holes in a couple transformer boxes. Which drained the coolant oil out. Luckily they did not blow up and injure anyone. That member was never charge, union protected him/her.
Bill 115 I see as a step in the right direction. What ever happened to job enthusiasm? Where people strived to be the best in their chosen field. Being paid for your abilities and drive. Not just because he/she makes this much so should I. It might be because he/she works 2-3 times harder then you do.
Sorry that this got to be more of a rant against unions, BUT… I truly see Bill 115 as the government cutting costs and limiting union powers
Having actually read the Bill it seems the article writer above has not. Strikes are prohibited within the Bill and are deemed unlawful in most places where they are mentioned within the document. There are quite a lot of restrictions placed on strike action and only one point where the aforementioned Labour Relations Act covers the allowable strike action.
Regarding the 20 sick days being reduced to 10, part of those 20 days in many cases helped to avoid use of Long-Term Disability claims and one should be reminded that those teachers are often in contact with many sick bodies during the course of a day, especially during cold and flu season. Also not all boards had 20 sick days or a bankable sick day plan. Those that did had it arranged around a retirement gratuity, that in many cases when it was paid out saw the retiree put the money towards a health benefit plan for after retirement as their health plan with their employer ended at retirement. (Just look at the amount of money to be paid out when Premier McGuinty retires.)
I don’t think that the Bill will stand up the to court challenge (a similar one in B.C. was struck down — after 5 years of court battles — do we need to spend tax money on that for what many with common sense can see already).
I really don’t think the above people understand the dangers this bill poses. The teachers don’t care that much about their sick days, or their wage as much as they care about the fact that their DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS are being taken AWAY from them. They are having their rights to negotiate taken away and other FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS that go against the human rights code, a dangerous precedent that will be guaranteed to extend to our health workers and other unionized workers next if this bill is not repealed. Furthermore, do you understand how badly future generations will suffer without extracurricular activities in schools to look forward to and to participate in?
All Ontario students are in support of teachers right now, and we’ll see how much longer you support or don’t care about this bill once it starts obliterating the rights of our nurses, firefighters, police officers, etc.
Fighting Bill 115 IS FOR THE KIDS’ FUTURES. Extra curriculars have proven in several studies TIME AND TIME AGAIN that they improve a child’s mental, social, and physical capabilities and are irreplaceable in their elementary, middle, and high school years. It’s very easy to order unappreciated teachers back to work when you don’t understand they are the ones responsible for raising our kids as much as we are.
How many people will want to become teachers in the future if this ridiculous bill stays? Not as many as there should be, and I’d like to see our society try and run without teachers being treated with the respect their profession deserves.
Oh, and if you’re reading this message right now you should be thanking a teacher for it since you most likely would not be able to without one.
Repeal this ridiculous, and yes, very UNDEMOCRATIC bill.
It’s time for our PUBLIC service workers to give their heads a shake …
Teachers, given a 39 work week school year for an average salary of $84,000.00 working less than 8 hour work days, what’s the problem. That works out to almost $500.00 per day. Seems like a pretty sweet deal to me.
Oh no, you can’t bank sick days … I thought they were suppose to be for being sick … I don’t get any… and such a hardship going from 20 days (4 work weeks) to 10 days (2 work weeks) … and yes, I still don’t get any.
I don’t have any children, yet, I certainly get to pay a portion of the costs with each tax bill that I receive. Things that make you go Hmmmm
I wish the PUBLIC SERVICE unions would realize we are all facing hard times and have all had to give a bit back. Do they think that because they work for us that we need the rhetoric. We Don’t
Please Teachers … realize that education for our children is a necessity … If you can’t be reasonable .. we may just have to once again increase class sizes (lay some of you off) so we can avoid going further in debt. We all want you to be happy, we all feel we pay you for the extra curricular activities, and if you ask most of us, we think you should be in our classrooms from 8:30 to 4:30 every day, Fridays included, so you have lots of time to mark papers and be good role models of what work means for all our communities children.
Please notice how our private sector unions have made concessions (Ford, GM, Chrysler to mention a few) and get back to the business of teaching. If you want to be politicians, elections will be held in a town near you soon, throw in your hats. Until then, remember, you have a great job with fabulous benefits so enjoy your Christmas and March breaks and wonderful summer holidays and stop being part of the budget problem and start being part of the solution.
Sincerely
Joe Taxpayer
The sick days banking and quatity were the result in previous negotiations in compensation for reducing the vacation pay below the legal 4% limit. So, to take that away without re-instating the 4% vacation pay and allowing teachers to use that at their leisure, is to take somethig without paying for it, which is theft. The thought was, it’s better for the boards if teachers don’t take vacation days during the school year. They recognized that staff get sick and so this agreement was made. Supply teachers are more expensive than staff and more disruptive to regular lessons. Thus, the ability to bank them was introduced to encourage staff to only use them when really necessary and reward staff who keep the system functioning in a conditional manner while accomodating actual sickness.
Agreed.
First off, I respect what teachers do, you would have to be silly not too. Personally I don’t see what is so out of order with this bill 115?
2 year wage freeze? This is what the economy dictates, come into in the private sector, I would gladly take only 2 year wage freeze.
20 – 10 sick days and can’t be banked -> This is just a joke, I would think the majority of people would agree 10 sick days in a 10 month work year is plenty.
If a teacher wants to take vacation throughout the school year it should be unpaid and it should have to be approved by the school board. -> 2 months off in summer, 2 weeks paid a Christmas, March break paid…..
To make the argument that teachers are being treated unfairly and undemocratic is just ridiculous. Teachers are essential to students and parents, so having the education minister order you back to work should be considered a compliment.
Please stop arguing that fighting bill 115 is about the kids, just tell the truth. Teachers will get more respect and maybe even support if their just honest. They need to take a realistic look at their contract/compensation and realize that in comparison to the rest of the working population, their doing exceptionally well.
I fully agree with some of the comments posted above. Come on Teachers, you have to be on the other side of the fence to truly appreciate the benefits you all enjoy. Guess what try working for the private sector. You will get 2 weeks paid vacation a year, 4 days sick leave and who has heard of banking your sick days, we have to be geniunely sick to take it. I work a 9 to 5:30 shift sometimes work on weekends and evenings too all considered part of the salary. I have even worked when I am not feeling a 100%. Above all we don’t get paid as close as even $55K a year for work done if not more compared to what teachers do. We don’t enjoy the time off as the Teachers. Please try and consider how difficult it is on our tax dollars which pays for all these benefits. Teachers are instrumental in grooming our children which is the future of this great country. Don’t misuse your rights and above all please thank the Lord for the benefits you all enjoy and above all for having a great job. There are so many qualified people out there waiting for a job.
The banked sick days are not used for vacation. In fact, if teachers want to take a vacation during the school year, they have to take it unpaid and it must be approved by the school board.
Teachers are not living in the real world. As a tax payer i am not in favour of bankable sick days. I’m retired after working for 45 years and never had a paid sick day, let alone be able to bank them if not used. Sick days are for when your sick, not for extra vacation. Teachers need to look at the rest of the work force as that is where their paychecks come from