this dispute, ETFO referred the question to the 
Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB). 

On May 20, ETFO put forward a strong case at 
the OLRB for why supervision should be a central 
table item for these members. On May 22, the 
OLRB delivered its decision that supervision is a 
local item. Although disappointing, the decision 
finalized the central list so that bargaining could 
get underway.

The Way Forward

Job action is just one way that ETFO members are 
showing OPSBA and the Liberal government that 
ETFO means business when it comes to protect-
ing ETFO members’ working conditions and stu-
dents’ learning conditions. In May, joint political 
action and solidarity with the other three teacher 
affiliates and CUPE Ontario was evident at a 
Queen’s Park rally to support the three striking 
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation 
locals. From rallies and joint weekly pickets out-

side Liberal constituency offices, to meetings with 
trustees and information pickets at local school 
board meetings, we have continued to put fur-
ther pressure on OPSBA and the government to 
reconsider the strips on the table

ETFO collective bargaining staff continues to work 
closely with locals to support local leaders in con-
ducting meaningful local negotiations with school 
boards. This is the first time in a decade that local 
leaders are in a position to engage in real local 
bargaining, due to the right to strike locally that 
was won through the amendment process of the 
new School Boards Collective Bargaining Act.

Stay Informed and Ready to Act

The months ahead are critical as we continue to 
defend our hard-won collective agreements. I am 
asking each and every member to stay strong, 
remain engaged and committed to our cause and 
stay informed for the latest and most accurate 
information as events unfold. 

You can do that through a wide range of ETFO 
communication tools, from the traditional (bar-
gaining bulletins, print materials, mass meetings) 
to the innovative (mobile alerts, apps, social 
media, telephone town halls, voicemail, online 
voting). Our online collective bargaining com-
munication tools, including ETFO’s Our Union 
website at etfocb.ca, ETFO’s Our Union Collective 
Bargaining eNewsletter and ETFO’s social media 
outlets, have proven effective in getting vital 
information to members.

Our professionalism and our future are at stake 
in these collective bargaining negotiations. Thank 
you as we continue to stand up for ourselves, our 
students and classrooms and public education in 
the coming months.

Sam Hammond

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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Photo: Anne de Haas