TAKE A PAUSE Now it's our turn to "take a pause" with the voluntary activities we undertake in schools. We will focus on teaching students and ensuring student safety. But we need to consider very carefully what we can afford to do beyond our instructional responsibilities.
What does this mean for you? Just what it says. Members are asked to think long and hard about what voluntary activities you will do in the coming year. You should not feel that you have to volunteer your time. You already work hard every day in your classrooms providing a world-class education for the students you teach. When it comes to voluntary activities members may want to just take a pause.
McGUINTY MONDAYS To be sure that the government knows that we will not forget how we have been treated by the Liberal government we are also introducing 'McGuinty Mondays.'
Every Monday, we are asking that all ETFO members
- Focus only on instructing students
- Ensure the safety of students
- Arrive at school no more than 30 minutes before classes begin
- Leave school no more than 30 minutes after classes end
- Not participate in any school-based or system-level meetings of any kind before, during, or after the instructional day
- Not participate in regional Ministry meetings of any kind, before, during, or after the instructional day.
HOW ELSE WILL ETFO PROTEST BILL 115 AND THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTACK ON EDUCATION? This is the first step in an escalating protest strategy. ETFO will challenge Bill 115 in court. Other strategies to defend our members will be introduced on a regular basis.
ENSURING A RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE
Collective bargaining rights are central to ensuring that working people are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness in the workplace. If the premier can get away with abolishing our rights, we need to ask,"who's next?"
We are at the beginning of a long fight - a fight that will include legal challenges, strike votes, and other actions to defend our democratic rights.
THREE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTEST BILL 115
Step One: Take a Pause Push the pause button on voluntary activities.
Step Two: Get Political E-mail, phone, and visit local MPPs to express your outrage at the government's actions. Plan now for the next election.
Step Three: Exercise Your Rights Vote to approve strike action at local meetings. Participate fully in McGuinty Mondays.
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Copyright 2012 - The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario ETFO holds the copyright to all information in this publication, except where specifically noted. All rights reserved.
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