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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1978-03-02, Page 26Page 14 Citizens News, March 9, 1978 The readers write: SHDHS teachers air views on strike situation Dear Mr. Editor, I wish to make a few com- ments about the futility of the present strike -lockout situation in Huron County; I will not discuss the details of the dispute. In the past when there was an unresolved conflict between teachers and the Board, the teachers resigned in mass to draw public attention to the dis- pute. This was considered a very drastic measure and would imply the seriousness of the issues. Bill 100 was passed by the Ontario Legislature to sup- posedly improve this situa- tion and to lay down certain procedures to be taken to improve Board -teacher negotiations and to resolve any resultant dispute. One of the provisions is that when negotiations break down and a stalemate occurs, the teachers may go on strike and the Board can counter with a lockout. If a strike -lockout con- tinues to the point where the provincial government feels the students' education is in jeopardy, an arbitrator is appointed and a binding settlement is forced. I do not know of any short lived strike -lockouts (28 school days is the average I believe) and it could be weeks before binding ar- bitration is legislated in Huron. From what I have seen so far in Huron and in other school districts, the strike and subsequent lockout is not helping at all to resolve the dispute. It only tends to harden the position of each side with theresulting d esul n REDI-MIX CONCRETE All Types of Concrete Work McCann Const, Ltd. DASHWOOD Phone 237-3381 (free estimates) BUS. TRIP TO DETROIT HOCKEY GAME Tuesday, Ma r.28 BUFFALO vs DETROIT Tickets: $15 (INCLUDES BUS FARE AND HOCKEY GAME) Tickets available on a first come basis, at Turkheim Furniture Zurich Bus pick-ups at Seaforth, Clinton, Hensall, Zurich, Dashwood and Grand Bend. charges, counter charges, innuendos, and "mud slinging". This most likely will have a devastating effect on the overall morals and efficien- cy of the whole . school • system for a period long after the strike -lockout is settled. In the meantime, the students are caught in the middle and, ironically, they are by far the greatest number of peonle affected. We have about 273 teachers, 16 Board members, and 4200 students as well as the custodial, secretarial, cafeteria, transportation and other supporting staffs. It seems therefore, because strikes and lockouts are ineffective in resolving the impasse and because so many innocent people are adversely affected, that teachers as well as any other group (bus drivers, custodians, etc.) that could close the schools should not be allowed to strike and the Boards should not be allow- ed to lockout. If the employees and the employer cannot sit down and coolly and intelligently reach an agreement, thus fulfilling their responsibility to the public, then that responsibility should be handed over to a third party for binding arbitration or some other means of binding settlement. Strikes and lockouts appear to only prolong the conflict and to destroy all relationships. If you feel as I do, that this strike -lockout is useless in settling this dispute, then I urge you to make your wishes known to your representatives in parlia- ment so that Bill 100 can be amended. The present system can only have a detrimental and downgrading effect upon our school system. Ironically, both sides have expressed concern for the students, but they appear to be doing nothing tangible about it. Students deserve more consideration than just "lip service.". Sincerely, Ken Ottewell. * * Dear Editor: Having attended all - candidates meetings spon- sored by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture before provincial elections I was sure that this organiza- tion was interested in hear- ing both sides of a question before making a decision on an issue. However this is ap- parently not true. On March 2 the Federa- tion held a meeting at Hen- sall. Members of the Huron County Board of Education were invited to present their views on the current dispute with the high school teachers of the county. No teachers or their spokesper- sons were invited to present their side of the question. SHOP AT HOME 0 0 The illness you'll never see coming. Get in shape — and don't give the enemy a big target. Fitness is fun. Try some, Pasnc/patnonillo It seems natural to con- clude from this that the Federation of Agriculture members have closed minds about this question and do not want to try making a balanced judgement. No dis- pute can be fairly settled un- less both sides are heard and their positions evaluated. I would hope that an attempt would be made to hear and weigh the other side of the issue. Sincerely Jerry McDonnell WORLD DAY OF PRAYER — The six Zurich and area churches combined forces on Friday to celebrate the World Day of Prayer at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Zurich. Some of the ladies who helped in the service were: (back row, left -right) Laurene Zehr, Blake Mennonite, Rita Mommersteeg, St. Peter's, St. Joseph, and Doris Deichert, St. Peter's Lutheran. In the front row are Carmel Sweeney, St. Boniface, guest speaker Gwyn Whilsmith of Exeter, Delores Gingerich, Zurich Mennonite and Donna Greb, Zurich United. 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