Elementary Teachers of Toronto

Elementary Teachers of Toronto
AbbreviationETT
FormationJune 1998; 26 years ago (1998-06)
TypeLocal union
Location
Membership
11,000[1]
President
Helen Victoros
Parent organization
Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario
AffiliationsToronto & York Region Labour Council
Websiteett.ca Edit this at Wikidata

The Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT) is a Canadian labour union and the Toronto local of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario. The organization's members are the full-time public elementary teachers employed by the Toronto District School Board (TDSB).[2][3]

The local was formed in June 1998 through the merger of 13 former Toronto elementary teacher locals.[4]

Governance

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The organization is a governed by a member-approved constitution.[5][6]

The business of the local is conducted by an elected executive, composed of three Table Officers (President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer) and 11 Executive Officers. Each Executive Officer represents two of the TDSB's 22 wards. Officers are elected for two-year terms.[7] The current president is Helen Victoros. The current vice president is Nigel Barriffe.


Members are also represented by Regional Organizers (one per TDSB ward) and at least one Steward per school. Both representatives liaise between teachers and Executive Officers.[8]

ETT is represented on the board of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council.[9]

Response to Bill 115

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Main article: Putting Students First Act

In response to the passage of the Putting Students First Act (Bill 115), by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the membership of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto engaged in several forms of organized protest, including, most notably, a one-day strike action on December 18, 2012.

One-day strike action

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On December 18, 2012, Toronto public elementary teachers participated in a one-day strike action to protest Bill 115 and the legislation’s perceived negative impact on local collective bargaining. The walkout closed 474 schools in Toronto, affecting 173,480 elementary students.[10] An estimated 12,000 Toronto public elementary teachers engaged in the labour action.[11]

The strike was dubbed "Super Tuesday" in the media, due to its size and scope.[12]

Rally at the Ministry of Education

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On January 15, 2013, Toronto-local members organized a protest in front of the Ontario Ministry of Education building, on Bay Street. The rally drew hundreds of protestors, forcing police to divert traffic and close down part of the street.[13]

Rally at the 2013 Ontario Liberal leadership convention

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The Toronto local, in coordination with the other public elementary teacher locals in the GTA, held a demonstration on January 25, 2013, on Carlton Street in front of Maple Leaf Gardens, the site of the 2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election. The size of protest, estimated in the hundreds, prompted police to close a section of Carlton Street outside the convention.[14]

School closures

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In January 2015, the Ontario Ministry of Education released a report indicating that 84 TDSB elementary schools fell under the ministry’s definition of underutilized (less than 65 per cent capacity), and could potentially be closed.[15] The TDSB, following directives from Ontario Minister of Education Liz Sandals, conducted its own review, refining the list of underutilized elementary schools to 48.[16][17]

ETT reviewed the 48 elementary schools highlighted by the TDSB using the data collected by the board to rank schools by external challenges to students (family income, levels of social assistance, family education, and preponderance of lone parent families[18]). ETT’s report concluded that the majority of the schools being considered for closure fell within the areas of Toronto the TDSB considers to be the poorest and to have the fewest learning opportunities.[19][20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "TDSB elementary teachers preparing to walk off the job". Metro News. Torstar. December 13, 2012. Archived from the original on September 10, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  2. ^ "Elementary Teachers of Toronto: About Us". Elementary Teachers of Toronto. July 12, 2012. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  3. ^ Rushowy, Kristin (September 4, 2013). "TDSB won't punish teachers for one-comment report cards, union says". Toronto Star. Torstar. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  4. ^ "Elementary Teachers of Toronto: History". Elementary Teachers of Toronto. July 12, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  5. ^ "Constitution and Bylaws of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, Local 12, Elementary Teachers of Toronto". Elementary Teachers of Toronto. February 21, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  6. ^ "ETFO Locals". Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario. September 2013. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  7. ^ "Elementary Teachers of Toronto: Who We Are". Elementary Teachers of Toronto. July 12, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  8. ^ "Constitution and Bylaws of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, Local 12, Elementary Teachers of Toronto". Elementary Teachers of Toronto. June 2, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  9. ^ "Labour Council's Executive Board and Committees 2016 - 2018". Toronto & York Region Labour Council. 2016. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  10. ^ Nesci, Gianluca (December 18, 2013). "Nearly 800 GTA schools close for the day as teachers hit picket lines for 'Super Tuesday'". National Post. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  11. ^ Reason, Cynthia (December 18, 2012). "Etobicoke teachers hit the picket lines for 'Super Tuesday'". Inside Toronto. MetroLand Media. Retrieved September 16, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ Jeffords, Shawn (December 17, 2012). "Elementary teachers take Super Tuesday to Broten's doorstep". Toronto Sun. Sun Media. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  13. ^ McCusker, Kris (January 15, 2013). "Toronto teachers rally against Bill 115 at education ministry". 680 News. Rogers Communications. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  14. ^ "Teachers protest outside Liberal convention". CityNews-Toronto. CityTV. January 25, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  15. ^ Wilson, Margaret (January 15, 2015). "Review of the Toronto District School Board" (PDF). Ontario Ministry of Education. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  16. ^ "TDSB names 60 schools in review of under-used space". CBC News Toronto. CBC. February 4, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  17. ^ Wilson, Codi (January 29, 2015). "Several TDSB schools could be closed due to declining enrollment". CP24. Bell Media. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  18. ^ "Learning Opportunities Index" (PDF). Toronto District School Board. 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  19. ^ Brown, Louise (February 9, 2015). "Majority of schools on TDSB hit list in poorer neighbourhoods". Toronto Star. Torstar. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  20. ^ "School Closures". Elementary Teachers of Toronto. February 8, 2015. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
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