136 Isabella Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 0B5

Telephone 416-962-3836 Toll-free 1-888-838-3836

Fax 416-642-2424

Website: 

wwwetfo.ca

WELCOME TO THE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’  

FEDERATION OF ONTARIO!

ETFO is the largest teachers’ union in Canada. We are a unique organization representing 
teachers, occasional teachers, designated early childhood educators (DECEs), and education 
workers in the elementary public schools of Ontario. I am proud of our members – over 
76,000 strong. When you accepted your position with your board, you became one of those 
members, joining in their collective strength, enthusiasm, and commitment to each other 
and to their profession.

As a member of ETFO provincially, you also became a member of your local – one of 75 throughout the province. 

The foremost goal of both your provincial ETFO and your local is to serve the needs of all members.

Our members are dedicated and principled professionals. They care deeply about the conditions in which they 

work, the children in their care, and the society in which they live and their students will mature. ETFO’s resources, 
both human and financial, are directed to developing and implementing programs to meet those concerns. We strive 
to serve our members in both professional and protective capacities.

As a federation, we offer a wide range of personal and professional development as well as leadership and training 

opportunities. As a union, we offer collective strength through our bargaining and advocacy efforts. We consider 
ourselves a union of professionals.

As your union, we work to provide a welcoming environment that celebrates our diversity and encourages the 

participation of all our members.

We developed this book to show you some of the resources and services that are available to you as a member 

of ETFO. Equally important is the information about opportunities for your involvement in ETFO and in your local.

You may remember that ETFO members lead the way during a difficult fight against Bill 115, one of the most 

regressive pieces of anti-collective bargaining legislation ever seen in Canada. You should feel great pride in working 
alongside colleagues who, without hesitation, vigorously defended democratic rights for all working people in 
Ontario – including the students who will need those rights when they enter the workforce in future. 

ETFO collective agreements expire in August 2014, and the upcoming round of collective bargaining offers us both 

opportunities and challenges.  We will be negotiating under Bill 122, the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 
2014, for the first time. While the new bargaining process sets out better guidelines for central (i.e., provincial) table 
discussions, the deciding factor in the 2014 round of bargaining will be the active engagement of our members.  

What will help us succeed in this challenge is our solidarity.  During the last round of bargaining, ETFO members 

demonstrated their ability to stand together for ourselves, our classrooms, and our communities. We are ready to 
display that same solidarity again during the 2014 round of collective bargaining, if necessary. ETFO members will 
continue to be a force to be reckoned with.

Remember, as a member of this federation, you are never alone in facing changes and challenges. No matter 

where you work in the province, ETFO is as close as your telephone or your internet connection.

We are glad you have joined us. Welcome to ETFO!

Sam Hammond
President
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario

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WELCOME TO THE  

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO 

2014-2015

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