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!