ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO

REPORT TO THE 2015 ANNUAL MEETING

Advancing and Protecting Our Union, Our Values and Our Profession

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was developed for women who already have 
negotiation or dispute resolution experience. This 
was an excellent opportunity for women who cur-
rently occupy a local leadership position such as 
local president, chief negotiator or released execu-
tive member to build their skills.

Health and Safety

In April, CB staff participated in the Conference 
Board of Canada’s Building Mentally Healthy 
Workplaces Workshop in Halifax. The workshop 
focused on the importance of employee well-
ness as an organizational priority, and engaged 
participants in discussion about how aspects of 
the National Standard for Psychological Health 
and Safety are being referenced and incorpo-
rated into organizational policy, procedures and 
culture.

Staff contributed to the development of the 
ETFO brief presented to the Ontario govern-
ment’s Select Committee on Sexual Violence and 
Harassment in April. This presentation was made 
in response to the government’s $41 million dol-
lar, three-year program It’s Never OK: An Action 
Plan to Stop Sexual Violence and Harassment.

CB staff worked with Professional Relations 
Services staff and legal counsel to assist with the 
development of the memorandum to presidents, 
Policy Program Memorandum (PPM) 158: School 
Board Policies on Concussion. This memo clearly 
sets out ETFO’s position to ensure that members 
do not engage in assessment related to concus-
sion. Assessment of injury or medical condition is 
the work of a medical doctor or a nurse practitio-
ner, not an ETFO member. 

Recent changes to the Occupational Health and 
Safety Act (OHSA) now include teacher candi-
dates and co-op students under the definition of 
workers. This change was made to bring greater 

Photo: Christine Cousins

All other photos: Anne de Haas