ETFO bargaining staff provide support to locals to help achieve strong collective bargaining agreements by offering assistance in the preparation of preliminary submissions, bargaining and conciliation, as well as advice on negotiation strategies and impasse resolution.
Contract maintenance and enforcement are essential to the integrity of the collective agreement. Through its protective services staff, ETFO provides advice and assistance to locals in formulating and processing grievances. Legal costs for arbitrations approved by the provincial Grievance Committee are paid for by the
provincial office.
2. Collective Bargaining in Ontario
The legal responsibility for collective bargaining is held by the provincial organization. In each school board, there is a teacher local and an occasional teacher local. As well, the Federation represents education support personnel, professional support personnel, and designated early childhood educators in some school boards. Each local establishes a collective bargaining committee and negotiates with the school board.
Training programs are provided to each local president and chief negotiator through provincial conferences, and training at the local level. These programs are funded through budget allocations approved by the Annual Meeting.
Bargaining is carried out under the Education Act and the Labour Relations Act. Third party assistance in the form of a conciliation officer or a mediator is available through the Ministry of Labour. Each bargaining unit of ETFO has the right to strike under the Labour Relations Act. Each member is expected to support duly authorized strikes; failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.
Though provincial staff assist locals in all negotiations, if required, provincial ETFO can assume direct responsibility for bargaining under Provincial Takeover. The provincial takeover team is chaired by the President and includes representatives from the local.
Each ETFO collective agreement has a three or four step grievance procedure that provides a member or the local recourse for violations of the agreement. The final step in the grievance procedure is arbitration, where an independent third party makes a decision on the matter.
3. ETFO Collective Bargaining Policies and Procedures
The ETFO Annual Meeting approves collective bargaining policies dealing with such issues as negotiations, just cause, health and safety, employment equity, working conditions, harassment, and discrimination.
The Executive approves the negotiation procedures that establish the process each local must follow during bargaining.
4. ETFO Steward
In teacher locals, each school or work site where ETFO members work has an ETFO steward who is the eyes and ears of the local and provincial offices. Through ETFO provincial programs, stewards have been given training to assist them in their responsibility to monitor the implementation of the collective agreement, and to make them aware of ETFO services and programs.
5. Professional Relations (PRS)
Working in the education system is more challenging today than it has ever been. Teachers and education workers face complex and varying roles in an increasingly litigious climate in a time of declining resources and social challenges. Staff are available to provide information, advice, support, and intervention for members who are experiencing professional difficulties.
This service is confidential and no action will be taken without the member’s knowledge and permission.
Local presidents and workplace stewards are encouraged to contact professional relations staff (PRS) at the provincial office when assistance is needed to advise and support members.