Canada’s teachers support of Ontario colleagues
OTTAWA, Aug. 24, 2012 /CNW/ – The teachers of Canada are throwing their support behind their colleagues in Ontario as the McGuinty government threatens to impose a contract by legislation on teachers who have not yet had the opportunity to reach a negotiated settlement through the collective bargaining process.
“The 200,000 teachers of Canada raise their voices in support of all their Ontario counterparts in their struggle to secure their rights to fair collective bargaining,” says Paul Taillefer, president of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF).
“A legislated settlement, as the McGuinty government proposes, represents an abuse of its legislative authority and interferes with collective bargaining that, in some cases, has yet to begin. It is an affront to every teacher inCanada,” adds Taillefer.
The CTF President urges the Premier of Ontario to abandon his plans to enact this legislation and permit the parties’ return to the bargaining table in good faith: “Collective bargaining is a problem-solving process. Contracts by government decree have no place in a democratic society.”
CTF has also urged teacher organizations across Canada to show their solidarity with their Ontario counterparts: “An attack against one Member organization is an attack against us all,” concludes Taillefer.
An alliance of 15 Member organizations and one Affiliate Member representing nearly 200,000 teachers across the country, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) is a member of the international body of teachers, Education International (EI).
Follow CTF on Twitter @CTFPresident, @CanTeachersFed, @EnseigneCanada
