Human Rights Statement

• ETFO Human Rights Statement

  The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario is committed to:

  • providing an environment for members that is free from harassment and discrimination at all provincial or local Federation sponsored activities;
  • fostering the goodwill and trust necessary to protect the rights of all individuals within the organization;
  • neither tolerating nor condoning behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of individuals or the integrity of relationships; and
  • promoting mutual respect, understanding and co-operation as the basis of interaction among all members.

  Harassment and discrimination on the basis of a prohibited ground are violations of the Ontario Human Rights Code and are illegal. The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario will not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code, at provincial or local Federation sponsored activities.
  

• What is Harassment?

  Harassment under the Code is defined as engaging in offensive behaviour or conduct, on a single or repeated basis, against another person when that behaviour is known, or ought reasonably to be known, to be unwelcome or unwanted.

   

  These actions may relate to, but are not restricted to an individual’s position of authority, race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, language, gender, sexual orientation age, record of offences, religion, marital status, socio-economic status, family status, personal health or disability.

   

  Sexual Harassment:
  Sexual Harassment may include, but is not limited to:

  •  offensive behaviour, comments and/or gestures;
  • sexual advances or remarks;
  • requests for sexual favours;
  • a reprisal, or threat of reprisal, for rejection of a sexual advance or request for sexual favours;
  • the display of exploitive material.

  Racial and Ethnocultural Harassment:
  Racial and Ethnocultural Harassment may include, but is not limited to:

  • ridiculing, degrading or expressing hatred or intolerance, whether verbally, in writing or physically, based on race or ethnic origin;
  • displaying offensive or derogatory materials of a racist nature;
  • refusal to work with a person because of race or ethnicity.

  Sexual Orientation Harassment:
  Sexual Orientation Harassment may include, but is not limited to:

  • ridiculing, degrading or expressing hatred or intolerance, whether verbally, in writing or physically, based on sexual orientation;
  • displaying offensive or derogatory materials of a homophobic nature;
  • refusal to work with a person because of sexual orientation.

  Other Forms of Harassment:
  Other forms of harassment may include, but are not limited to:

  • Offensive, embarassing or harmful references to an individual's intellectual or physical capacities, appearance, or family status;
  • words or actions that result in feelings of uneasiness, humiliation, discomfort, and distress;
  • an expression of preceived power and superiority over another person, usually for reasons over which the vicitm has little or no control.

  What to do if you feel harassed or discriminated against at a Federation sponsored activity:

  Every individual has the right to decide how to respond to harassment and discrimination. Nothing in this procedure shall restrict the right of a member to file a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission. The following represents a process for resolving a complaint of harassment or discrimination by a member of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario at a Federation sponsored activity.
  Depending on the circumstances, a member may wish to resolve a problem by doing one of the following:
  

  • discussing it directly with the individual involved;
  • seeking assistance to reach an informal resolution;
  • filing a formal complaint.

  It is important to document the alleged incident(s), including times, places, and witnesses.
  

• What to do if you Wish to Initiate a Complaint under ETFO Procedures

  Step 1
  It is recommended that a member, or an advocate acting on behalf of the member, make known to the alleged harasser that the conduct/behaviour of the individual is considered harassment or discrimination and is unwelcome. It is important to request that the offensive behaviour cease immediately.

  Step 2
  If the member (or advocate) is not comfortable approaching the alleged harasser or if there is a recurrence of such behaviour following a resolution at Step 1, the member should approach the designated Human Rights Officer (designaated representative) at the activity and ask the designated Human Rights Officer to act on his/her behalf. The designated Human Rights Officer will advise the ETFO Officer in charge of the event or activity.

  Step 3
  The ETFO Officer will separately interview the complainant and the alleged harasser and any witnesses. If the complaint cannot be resolved informally, the complainant will be asked to forward the complaint in writing to the attention of the General Secretary.
  Article VII of the ETFO Constitution outlines the process for filing a formal written complaint.

  Step 4
  The complaint will be investigated by the General Secretary or staff designate. If it is determined that the complaint is valid, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken as outlined in Article VII of the ETFO Constitution and Bylaws. The Presidents of the Locals to which the parties are members shall be advised of the outcome.

  Every effort will be made to maintain strict confidentiality in the complaint process. The Federation may be required to provide information obtained during an investigation to an outside agency that has the right to request information otherwise protected by the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Examples of such agencies are the Ontario Human Rights Commission, a tribunal, or court.

  All correspondence and other documents generated under these procedures will be marked "Private and Confidential" and will be stored in the office of the General Secretary for five (5) years.