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Teachers picket Flynn's office Continued from page 1 3 · Thursday, December 20, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Elementary teachers have been holding rotating one-day strikes across the province. Each unit chose its picketing location and Halton teachers selected sites to show solidarity and the impact of a large crowd. "Some of the schools, if it was a small school, and you have 10 staff members in one school, you would have only five at each picket. It would have no impact at all. We decided this is a big impact," Bero said. At Flynn's office, educators walked the Lakeshore Road sidewalk over several blocks. Bero said the teachers union has a positive relationship with the school board and has negotiations scheduled for January. Bill 115, which was passed by the provincial government last summer, gives the Province the final say on the terms of a negotiated contract and allows the Province to impose a contract on unions that do not have locally bargained agreements signed by Dec. 31. Maureen Weinberger, ETFO vice-president, was on Halton picket lines to show her support. She admitted the Province has the power to impose contracts on teachers in the new year, but the premier and education minister also have the opportunity not to do so and to allow unions to negotiate locallybargained contracts. "The way you do that (collective agreements) is allow free collective bargaining so all the issues that both sides bring to the table can be on the table and can be negotiated," she said. "What we're hoping is, by continuing to shine a spotlight on what's going on here and by doing these protests across the province in every local, we will keep that pressure on and hopefully come to some kind of dialogue so that we don't have to be contemplating things in the new year." Flynn issued a statement, stating his disappointment with the teachers union, which chose to disrupt nine years of labour peace in Halton and has placed students in the middle of the disagreement. He said, since 2003, the government has hired 600 new teachers, increased teacher pay by 34 per cent and per-pupil funding by 47 per cent. He also noted Catholic and Francophone teachers negotiated contracts with the government. "Unfortunately, ETFO chose to walk away from talks with the government after only one hour and have now chosen to disrupt learning for their students," he said. "I encourage ETFO to return to the bargaining and find a local solution." Amy Rasmussen, president of the Halton Designated Early Childhood Educators, admitted it's unfortunate this labour dispute has been disruptive, but ETFO considered parents and their need to find alternate care for their children during a strike riziero vertolli / oakville BEAVER / @halton_photog day by providing 72-hours notice of strike. At Kevin Flynn's office: Halton elementary teachers and early childhood educators "We hope this was enough picketed at Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's constituency office in Bronte during yesterday's one-day strike. time for everybody to get their ducks in a row," she said. At the board office, protesting teachers were joined by Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) president and registered nurse Linda Haslam-Stroud. "Nurses and teachers did not cause the recession or the deficit," she said. The ONA represents 59,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals. Co m me Auto rcia ·H l·L om if e e ·T ra ve l Free Quotes AMAZING RATES! Fast Service... 2345 Wyecroft Road, Unit 18, Oakville L6L 6L8 905.847.0400 · akeith@all-risks.com ADRIAN KEITH Voted #1 Best Insurance Brokerage & #1 Insurance Broker by Oakville Beaver readers 2012 OAKVILLE S C I R T A I D E P ARE PEDIATRIC URGENT C PEDIATRIC URGENT CARE PEDIATRICS CLINIC · PEDIATRIC ASTHMA CLINIC · TRAVEL CLINIC · ALLERGY CLINIC First Oakville's Children Walk-IN clinic Our pediatrician is accepting new PATIENTS now. Providing Compounding & FREE medication flavouring, Insulin Pump Supplies & Diabetes Specialty for Kids 15% DISCOUNT PROGRAM. Hours: Mon-Fri: 9:30am - 7:00pm Sat: 10:00am - 3:00pm 905-469-9988 2540 Postmaster Drive @ Dundas St. W. · www.Oakvillepediatrics.com · 905-847-KIDS (5437)