Teachers vote in favour of strike action

[valve37]

Ontario elementary teachers vote in favour of strike action ahead of bargaining

Will Wynne bow to their demands? You bet for they voted her in and now it's payback time!

TORONTO - The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario has voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, according to a statement on its website.

The union representing public elementary teachers across the province announced Tuesday its members voted 95% in favour of strike action in November.

ETFO president Sam Hammond called the strike vote “historic.”

“It was an historic moment for ETFO as members voted online over a six-day period to strongly support their team at the central table,” Hammond said in his statement.

“Going into bargaining, our members have sent a powerful message that they will not stand for a repeat of the last round of bargaining involving contract strips and unconstitutional legislation removing our bargaining rights,” he said.

Negotiations are slated to commence in January 2015.

Among the bargaining goals outlined on the website are improved teacher pay, improved class sizes and limits on teacher workload.

They’re also asking for improved sick leave, better pregnancy and parental leave entitlements, and improved health and safety benefits.

Hammond was not available for comment Wednesday.

Teachers make between about $47,000 to a maximum of about $88,000.

A recent special report by auditor general Bonnie Lysyk concluded that the decision by Premier Kathleen Wynne to reopen teacher and school staff contracts in 2013 cost $468 million.

Wynne’s deal added extra sick days, and $268 million in costs on top of $200 million in improved benefits already added by McGuinty to settle down an angry education sector in the wake of his controversial Bill 115.

However, the auditor said taxpayers are still farther ahead than they would have been had the provincial government not ended a teacher sick day “gratuity” plan that allowed them to cash out up to 200 unused sick days for a maximum of $47,000 on retirement.

Lysyk said the Liberal government’s projection that eliminating the sick day banks and other benefits would save taxpayers approximately $2 billion over two years was reasonable.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/12/10/ontario-elementary-teachers-vote-in-favour-of-strike-action

[pierrelebel]

"However, the auditor said taxpayers are still farther ahead than they would have been had the provincial government not ended a teacher sick day “gratuity” plan that allowed them to cash out up to 200 unused sick days for a maximum of $47,000 on retirement.

Lysyk said the Liberal government’s projection that eliminating the sick day banks and other benefits would save taxpayers approximately $2 billion over two years was reasonable."

Valve - do you agree with the auditor general?

[valve37]

Well of course.

Do you subscribe that now the teachers should get all they are asking for even though Wynne said there is no more $$$?

[pierrelebel]

"Do you subscribe that now the teachers should get all they are asking for even though Wynne said there is no more $$$?"

No, absolutely not.

[davca.8je2v]

Only smart thing the Liberals did. Of course it was following the lead of the Federal Government in getting rid of "accumulated" sick leave. Sick leave is for when you are sick, not for you to bank up and take a free 1/2 (or better ) off with pay before you retire.

They now have sick days each year and if you are actually SICK you can go on short-term and long-term benefits. problem is they actually have to be sick.

it's time the government does like "most" privately run businesses and if you are off "sick" for more than 2 days provide a doctors note proving you are sick. It is so abused that it is terrible.

Will be interesting to see what happens since the Government passed legislation that took away teacher's right to strike . I actually think it is funny that the teacher's union backed the Liberals with tons of cash and Hudak bashing commercials and now they are going to see the results of their effort with cutbacks.