May 2005 / Volume 12
What’s
Next?
Our
stalled negotiations have finally moved forward but only slightly. The two days of strike, April 19th and May 6th, have shown
the government that we will not settle for a substandard agreement. We have sent the message that we are not willing to lose
acquired rights that we have fought for in previous rounds of negotiations. As a result of our pressure tactics, negotiations
have moved to a higher level.
A political
table has been convened at which highly placed officials of the MELS are meeting with union representatives.
A five-day
strike mandate may well have pressured the government even further and a June settlement may have been possible. Alas, although
QPAT member unions supported the five-day strike mandate, our cartel partners in the FSE narrowly defeated it. We should be
proud of our resolve. QPAT member unions have shown that they are not about to be cowed by an employer group which clearly
has no concept of the realities of the modern classroom.
What
do we do now? An action plan has been approved for the rest of the school year. This plan is described in broad strokes below
but the precise details of its implementation are up to your local union. So please check with your union delegate for more
details.
A fall
action plan which will include much more disruptive actions is under development and should be available shortly.
Actions for May/June 2005
1. Disruption of the reporting procedure.
2.
Joint letter (parents and teachers) to the Minister of Education with copies to the negotiating table demanding services
for students who are not currently receiving them.
3. Media activities to demonstrate the working and learning conditions in a so-called
“regular” class
with integrated students.
4. With a view to furthering the targeted actions, solicit letters of support from:
a) students in adult education and vocational training
programs;
b) student teachers;
c) student associations;
d) school administrators, individually and through
their association;
e) governing boards;
f) parents’ associations.
5. Demonstrations at meetings of school boards highlighting negotiations issues.
6. Continue current actions: Mondays: Buttons
Tuesdays: Wear black
Wednesdays: Picketing
Thursdays: E-mails and faxes
Fridays: Local
surprise
7. “You have no mail ” every school day except for Home and School literature,
report cards, and mail dealing with health and safety issues.
8. Stay in the public eye through demonstrations.
9. Boycott all
curriculum reform training, etc., as of April 28, 2005.
10. Withhold all results for MELS examinations at the elementary level. (e.g. ELA Cycle 3).
Solidarity
is essential. We must continue to show the employer group that we are resolved to stay the course until a favourable agreement
is reached!