Position Statements
Definition of Position
Positions will provide guidance on issues over which the Federation has a measure of control. |
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  | 1.0 Accessibility - 2001 |
1.1 That Federation programs, services and facilities be readily accessible to, and usable by, individuals with disabilities. | 2.0 Arts and Culture - 2004 |
2.1 That ETFO integrate an arts and culture component into all provincial and local workshops, conferences, and meetings.
2.2 That ETFO promote arts and culture activities within the community. | 3.0 Canadian Union-Made Goods - 2003 |
3.1 That in the purchase of products, ETFO give priority to Canadian, union-made goods.
3.2 That when a Canadian, union-made product is unavailable, ETFO give priority to products that have had some part of their manufacture completed in a Canadian, union shop.
3.3 That when a Canadian, union-made product is not feasible, ETFO locals give priority to purchasing products and gifts made by local artisans or available from organizations which contribute to the social welfare of the community. | 4.0 Education Finance - 1999 |
4.1 That ETFO forge alliances with other federations, trustee associations, individual school boards, labour, parent and community groups, and other partners to highlight the Federation positions on education finance with the government, individual MPPs, and the public.
4.2 That ETFO provide resources and up-to-date information about the education funding model to the locals.
4.3 That ETFO encourage locals as well as individual teachers to take appropriate action with their school boards and communities to highlight the Federation positions on education finance and advance their cause. | 5.0 Employment Insurance - 2008 |
5.1 That nine (9) hours per day be recognized for employment insurance purposes for members. | 6.0 Environmental Responsibility - 2004 |
6.1 That ETFO model, and encourage locals to adopt, environmentally friendly practices at all ETFO sponsored events.
6.2 That ETFO programs, services, and facilities be environmentally responsible. | 7.0 Harassment - 1999 |
7.1 That ETFO urge the provincial government to amend the sections of the Ontario Human Rights Code, which prohibit harassment in the workplace to include harassment on the basis of sexual orientation. | 8.0 Native Language(s) - 1999 |
8.1 That the Executive promote the teaching of native language(s) in Ontario schools to ensure all aboriginal students are given the opportunity to maintain their language(s). | 9.0 Political Action - 1999 |
9.1 That the long term political action strategy for ETFO:
9.1.1 instill public confidence in the public education system;
9.1.2 promote recognition of teachers as advocates for children;
9.1.3 promote recognition of teachers as defenders of the social fabric; and
9.1.4 foster a better public understanding of a teacher's job and how it has changed. | 10.0 Public Relations - 2001 |
10.1 That the objectives of ETFO public relations campaigns be:
10.1.1 to enhance the status and profile of elementary teachers and educational workers;
10.1.2 to advance and defend the cause of quality, publicly funded education;
10.1.3 to improve the morale of, and restore public confidence in, the teaching profession;
10.1.4 to foster closer co-operation between elementary teachers and the students, parents, and greater educational community that they serve;
10.1.5 to re-establish teachers’ and Federation’s position as legitimate voices on educational issues and in setting the educational agenda; and
10.1.6 to build member identification with Federation and the principles, aims, and objects on which it is founded.
10.2 That ETFO public relations campaigns be designed to include opportunities for:
10.2.1 fostering a greater public awareness of, and interest in, educational affairs;
10.2.2 presenting a balanced and well-informed understanding of educational issues;
10.2.3 advocating current ETFO positions on educational issues; and
10.2.4 promoting ETFO activities and services which positively affect education and the community.
10.3 That the target audiences of ETFO public relations campaigns be:
10.3.1 ETFO members;
10.3.2 parents, students and other members of elementary school communities that we serve;
10.3.3 members of the public in the greater community;
10.3.4 educational facilities, at all levels of education;
10.3.5 boards of education and trustees; and
10.3.6 government, at all levels, whose decision making authority impacts on education.
10.4 That in addition to province-wide campaigns organized at the provincial level, local materials and programs be developed that promote ETFO’s aims, objects and services, and that assist locals in developing and presenting their own programs that promote ETFO to both its members and the community.
10.5 That teaching in elementary schools as a desirable profession and teaching as a career, especially for members of groups currently under-represented in the profession, be promoted at all levels of education. | 11.0 Recertification - Revised 2003 |
11.1 That no Federation dollars be used for courses or workshops for recertification purposes.
11.2 That ETFO not be a registered provider with the Ontario College of Teachers for the purposes of recertification.
11.3 That no Federation dollars be used for courses, workshops, seminars, or conferences sponsored by organizations with Professional Learning Program (PLP) status. | 12.0 Same Sex Rights - 1999 |
12.1 That ETFO urge the provincial government to amend the definition of "spouse" and similar terms in various Ontario statutes to provide legal recognition to same-sex relationships. | 13.0 School Closures - 1999 |
13.1 That ETFO continue involvement in the issue of school closures by:
13.1.1 supporting the efforts of parents on the issue;
13.1.2 using ETFO communications vehicles to highlight the issue; and
13.1.3 focusing on the systemic problems of the education funding formula. | 14.0 School Fundraising - revised 2007 |
14.1 That members not participate in fundraising activities for essential school supplies such as text books and computers or for school infrastructure required to provide instructional programs. | 15.0 School Staff Meetings - 2008 |
15.1 That, where staff meetings are not addressed in the collective agreement, participation in the meeting by a member be voluntary.
15.2 That, where staff meetings are addressed in the collective agreement:
15.2.1 staff meetings deal with administrative and operational matters and other issues raised by staff;
15.2.2 teachers have input into the agenda for the staff meeting;
15.2.3 the timing and length of staff meetings be established by the teachers and school administrator at the beginning of the year;
15.2.4 teachers have the right to leave staff meetings that extend beyond the agreed adjournment time;
15.2.5 employer-provided professional development be scheduled on professional activity days during the school year and/or on instructional days with release time provided by the employer; and
15.2.6 notwithstanding the above, teachers may choose to voluntarily participate or not to participate in employer-provided professional development during a school staff meeting, such meetings not to extend beyond the agreed time or result in additional meetings.
| 16.0 Use of Unionized Facilities - Revised 2011 |
16.1 That ETFO use unionized facilities, where available, for provincially sponsored programs.
16.2 That ETFO locals give priority to the use of unionized facilities for local programs.
16.3 That when the use of a unionized facility is not feasible, ETFO locals give priority to the use of facilities that contribute to the social welfare of the community.
16.4 That ETFO encouragemembers to purchase goods from unionized retailers.
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