ETFO has reached a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ontario government. Complete details are on ControlYourFuture.ca.
All ETFO members need to vote online to approve this MOU. The voting website is https://www.intvoting.com/ETFO and you will need your ETFO ID number. Voting is now open, and ends Sunday June 23rd at 6:00pm.
If you can't find your ETFO ID number, call the help desk at 1-877-869-8233.
Items of Note in the MOU for Occasional Teachers:
- Occasional teachers will benefit along with everyone else from the 2% salary restoration that takes effect Sept 1st, 2014.
- No changes to Reg. 274/12 that apply to ETFO members without the agreement of ETFO and the school boards.
- Committee of ETFO, school boards, and Ministry to review Reg. 274/12 Hiring Practices with a view to establishing hiring practices and implementation procedures agreeable to the parties and/or to establish best practices for occasional teacher allocation and development.
- Task force to consider the establishment of a Section 21 Committee for education sector stakeholders under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This would be a big step forward for all teachers.
- A period of local bargaining re-opens, to be completed by August 29, 2013. However, any changes must be by mutual agreements, as there will be no strikes or lockouts.
- Reduction in the number of unpaid days that were imposed upon teachers.
- A number of provisions such as the Voluntary Unpaid Leave Program, may result in additional work for occasional teachers.
Overall, it appears to be a good deal, certainly better than we could have expected given the dialogue coming from the government this past Fall.