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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-12-10, Page 3Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Times -Advocate Talks off with elementary teachers By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE SEAFORTH Provincial -level talks have officially broken off between the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and representatives from the lobbying organization rep- resenting public school boards in Ontario. And a quick visit to the websites of the two organiza- tions reveals a lev- el of animosity that calls into question the potential for a return to negotiations in the near future. Blaming the Dec. 5 breakdown on what he describes as a monu- mental blunder made by the On- tario Public School Boards Associ- ation (OPSBA), ETFO president David Clegg provided a video statement for the teachers union website. In the video, Clegg says ETFO offered to forego a salary increase in the final year of a proposed four-year deal, freeing up funds for boards to hire more specialist teachers and maintain or enhance teacher preparation time. He then accuses OPSBA of rejecting these offers, attempting instead to claw back most of the improved work- ing conditions that we bargained for in 2005. Based on these positions, it was clear that the school boards en- tered into these discussions with no intention of bargaining col- laboratively and in the spirit of reaching an equitable agreement, Clegg concludes. A news release on the OPSBA website, meanwhile, blames ETFO for walking out on provincial - level talks in May, returning under an extension just hours before an Education Min- istry -imposed Nov 30 deadline, and then as the five-day ex- tension drew to a close on Dec. All other education - related unions in the province (most recently the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federa- tion, or OSSTF) reached provincial agreements with OPSBA prior to the Nov. 30 deadline. 5 making de- mands that went far beyond those agreed to by all other unions. All other education -related unions in the province (most re- cently the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, or OSSTF) reached provincial agree- ments with OPSBA prior to the Nov 30 deadline. ETFO s demands would have resulted in unfunded costs to boards of over $260 million, the OPSBA news release charges. This money would have had to come out of already -stretched budgets dedicated to support our students. In response to the lobby organi- zation s $260 million prediction which was attributed to OPSBA in media reports about the failure of negotiations Clegg says in his video statement that projec- tions of a shortfall are simply not true. He adds that Education Ministry officials agreed that the ETFO proposal would have fallen in line with government funding commitments. In failing to meet the Education Ministry deadline, ETFO forgoes a government commitment for annual three per cent salary in- creases over four years. Instead, according to earlier statements by Education Minister Kathleen Wynne, school boards will only be granted enough money for two per cent salary increases over two years. And in the absence of a provin- cial -level agreement, it s now up to each board to negotiate two- year deals with the local chapters of the ETFO union. If (the Education Ministry) sticks to its original statements, it will be a two-year deal, explained Jim Sheppard, human resources superintendent for the Avon Mait- land District School Board. Sheppard says the board has al- ready had several meetings with local ETFO representatives, and will now move to set up new meeting dates as soon as possible. On the secondary school side, negotiation dates have already been set between the board and local OSSTF representatives. With a provincial -level deal signed just prior to the Nov 30 deadline, Sheppard says he hopes to have a four-year deal with the local OSSTF by the end of January. Granton ice rink issue still up in the air By Ben Forrest TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF LUCAN Lucan Biddulph council contin- ues to contemplate the possibility of allowing an ice rink to be installed in the community park in Granton. Council was approached earlier this year by a local couple that hopes to install a rink that would be maintained by members of the pub- lic and would measure 40 by 60 , according to Coun. Alex Westman. Lucan Biddulph clerk -administrator Ron Reymer told council regular maintenance would be required and he raised concerns about liability issues, as the rink would be lo- cated on municipal property. Reymer suggested that turning down the project would be regrettable but said, we live in litigious society where lawsuits are common. Deputy Mayor Perry Caskanette said he would be in favour of the rink if there was a group that would commit to regular inspec- tions and other responsibilities. The question of liability was repeatedly raised, however, and Reymer asked whether the rink could be created off municipal land perhaps in someone s backyard. Reymer and deputy clerk Lisa de Boer will investigate the matter further to see if an ice rink at the Granton park would result in a higher insurance premium for the municipal- ity. Council hopes to make a decision on the matter at its Dec. 15 meeting. Museum curator Applications for the position of manager / curator of the Lucan Area Heritage and Don- nelly Museum are trick- ling in, according to Lu - can Biddulph Mayor Tom McLaughlin. A job definition and posting have been ap- proved by the municipal- ity s heritage committee and have been posted on a number of websites, in- cluding the municipality s own. The closing date for applications will be Jan. 2, and the municipality hopes to begin interview- ing for the position later the same month. Boots on the ground for Habitat Solid footwear From left, Habitat for Humanity represen- tatives Vern Alderdice and Arnold Mathers, pictured with Sarah Geoffrey and John Wuerth from Wuerth Shoes in Exeter, accept- ed six pairs of work boots Dec. 3 that were donated by Chris Taggart from Terra Footwear. (photo/Pat Bolen) By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF one is allowed on the Wellington Street site without them. Exeter has been excellent for EXETER Six pairs of new donations, said Mathers but work boots will keep Habitat for more are needed, although he Humanity Huron County volun- added it is just a matter of get- teers safe on the job, after Terra ting out and asking. Footwear presented the boots to The Exeter build has an ex - Habitat representatives Dec. 2 at cellent list of volunteers, said Wuerth Shoes in Exeter. Mathers, as well as a garden shed Accepting the boots on behalf being built at South Huron Dis- of Habitat were Exeter commit- trict High School and floor joists tee chairperson Arnold Mathers being constructed at Arc Angels and gift -in-kind co- chairperson in Dashwood. Vern Alderdice. Exeter has really responded, The six pairs of boots are im- said Mathers. It couldn t be bet - portant, said Mathers, since no ter. WRAP Y OUR WINDOWS FOR THE HOLIDAYS This holiday season, give yourself the gift of light, and transform your home with the elegance of Hunter Douglas window fashions. Order one of our featured products before December 15, 2008 and receive up to 8300 in manufacturer's rebates. Visit this participating Hunter Douglas dealer for details. 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