WHAT IS YOUR UNION DOING ABOUT ALL OF THIS?


For more than a year, ETFO has been work- ing with other education stakeholders at the Ministry of Education-OTF Joint Action Ta- ble on Teacher Supply and Demand to gather, understand and interpret available informa- tion regarding the teacher supply crisis in the province. It was hoped that an implementable plan would be ready during the 2023-24 school year. As of the time of this story’s writ- ing, however, a plan to address fail-to-fills had yet to be released. Te fail-to-fill issue continues to evolve


and ETFO continues to advocate for our members. Te Federation has consistently fought for the investments and meaningful consultation required for a strong school sys- tem and will continue to do so moving for- ward. You can join our campaign and learn more about ETFO’s Building Better Schools plan at BuildingBetterSchools.ca. Tis year, ETFO and the other education


affiliates supported the OTF’s decision not to extend the re-employment limit for re- tired teachers and administrators from 50 to 95 days. Just like transitional certificates for teacher candidates who have not yet gradu- ated, extending the re-employment limit is not effective. Te data proves that retired teachers are not picking up the jobs, and the problem is only getting worse. At the local level, leaders continue to


meet with school board personnel to assess the issue of ongoing fail-to-fills to mitigate the situation and ensure collective agree- ments are followed. Teacher collective agree- ments, through preparation payback provi- sions, provide a mechanism to deal with fail-to-fills without the need to resort to hir- ing unqualified instructors, provided there is enough teacher preparation time to cover the level of unfilled teacher absences in a school on a given day. ETFO understands that losing prepara-


tion time is not a sustainable solution; it leaves teachers like Danyal feeling expend- able, teachers like Tracy exhausted and frus- trated, and teachers like Moira feeling guilty for taking a needed sick day. However, while difficult for permanent teacher members in the short term, the prep time provision is arguably better than allowing for the ero- sion of the profession through the hiring of unqualified instructors. ETFO is working to address the increased use of unqualified instructors by relying upon language in the “scope and recognition” clauses of teacher


and occasional teacher collective agree- ments, as well as associated definitions in the Education Act. Should the Federation become aware of


the use of unqualified instructors beyond the narrow scope permitted under the collective agreement and relevant laws and regulations, the matter is addressed with the board and, where needed, through the grievance arbi- tration process. Te future of quality public education


is at stake when there is a chronic fail-to- fill issue across the province. Tis systemic problem requires a systemic solution. Tis means authentic, collaborative consultations based on real data (qualitative and quantita- tive) with all partners involved, along with investments in the supports and resources educators and students need. ETFO will continue to raise this issue and


advocate for our members through our pub- lic campaigns, our lobby efforts, and through meetings and working groups. Ultimately, however, as we head into the next provincial election, it will be up to all of us to organize to elect a government that is willing to priori- tize and value public education. n


Zaiba Beg and Todd Rimmington are members of ETFO executive staff.


“ AD ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO 11


THE FUTURE OF QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AT STAKE WHEN THERE IS A CHRONIC FAIL-TO- FILL ISSUE ACROSS THE PROVINCE. THIS SYSTEMIC PROBLEM REQUIRES A SYSTEMIC SOLUTION.


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