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Government is not negotiating: teachers' union Continued from page 1 3 · Wednesday, December 19, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com were experiencing a challenge in finding childcare for today. More than 3,000 local public elementary school teachers, occasional teachers and designated early childhood educators, represented by the ETFO, are protesting Bill 115, also known as the Putting Students First Act. The legislation, passed last summer by the Ontario government, froze teacher wages for two years, cut into benefits and took away teachers' local bargaining rights. The local teachers are joining their counterparts across the province, who have been conducting oneday protests since last week. "It's a message to the government that it isn't appropriate the way they're handling things," said ETFO Halton president Marg Macfarlane. "Their choices, as far as "Negotiations involve a two-way communication, where there's give and take. When there's a foregone conclusion and a pre-ordained end, that not negotiating." Marg Macfarlane, president Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, Halton schools are closed today, teachers will be out picketing during regular schools hours. They will picket outside Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's and Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh's constituency offices in Oakville and Milton, respectively, and the school board's head office in Burlington. Macfarlane noted the ETFO is pleased Halton District School Board trust- ees voted, last week, to write a letter to Minister of Education Laurel Broten to ask the minister to repeal Bill 115. ETFO Halton has been in a legal strike position since Dec. 13. To date, local elementary school teachers have cut participation in extracurricular activities. Similar actions have also taken place in local high schools, as the Halton district of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) is also in a legal strike position. Parents should be aware that during the strike, before- and after-school programs are not open in the closed school buildings; however, full-day childcare centres operating on school board property are open today. introducing and passing Bill 115, are not appropriate. They wrote a law to circumvent the Labour Relations Act and they are holding themselves beyond the reach of the Human Rights Code and the courts. "That is unacceptable and should be unacceptable to any citizen," said the ETFO Halton president. Macfarlane added the protests are not about teacher wages, and the unions are ready to sign wage freeze contracts. Instead, this is about teachers' bargaining rights. "This has come down to the fact that while the Ontario government continues to talk about bargaining and negotiations, what's available to us is neither," she said. "Negotiations involve a two-way communication, where there's give and take. When there's a foregone conclusion and a pre-ordained end, that's not negotiating." While public elementary OAKVILLE'S DEFENSIVE DRIVING SCHOOL EXCEEDS ALL DRIVING PROGRAMS · Maximum Insurance Discount · Easy Payment Plan 21 · Patience and Courtesy Is Our Virtue YEARS YEARS · Modern Dual-Controlled Car · Course Fee May Be Tax Deductable EXPERIENCE · Driving Tests Arranged ·Specialist In Teaching Nervous Beginner CHRISTMAS COURSE: DRIVING EDGE TRAINING 4 DAYS IN A ROW COURSE: DEC 22-23, 27-28 JAN 2-3, 4-5 Please view our online Calendar. We offer Standard and Automatic Lessons 905.469.8880 · drivingedge.ca · info@drivingedge.ca 2448 Lakeshore Rd. West · Unit 18, 2nd Floor $ DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 400 + HST YMCA of Oakville Merry Christmas GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH NOVEMBER 5 ­ DECEMBER 23 Gift certificates n at the Peter Gilganow avail a b l e Fa m ily Y M C A ! Grandma Helping You Make Smart Decisions About Your Money Dad Gran d Ju lie Swimming lessons* m Ja es Gym Kids* Aqua Fit fitness classes* Cycle Fit fitness classes* Wellness Centre* pa 10 personal training sessions Mo m *Programs and services are included with the price of a YMCA membership. ymcaofoakville.com 905-845-3417 Peter Watson Richard Benn Danielle Lavigne Anita Provaznik 220 Randall Street · Downtown Oakville Phone: 905.842.2100