SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR FEDERATION
FROM CHARITY TO JUSTICE CONFERENCE
In May, fi fty ETFO women members at- tended the fi rst From Charity to Justice conference, which focussed on the con- nections between the labour movement and social justice movements. Held at pro- vincial offi ce, the conference explored how members can leverage their charitable work to become social justice advocates for change. Keynote speaker Deirdre Pike of the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton noted that while charity pro- vides a direct benefi t to the community, it often maintains the status quo and doesn’t really change the structure that keeps peo- ple in need. Both Pike and subsequent pre- senters, including staff and activist mem- bers from locals, reviewed the actions that members can take to build relationships and advocate for change at community and political levels.
APRIL 28 NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING
ETFO has added its voice to the call for a national ban on asbestos. The Canadian Labour Congress called for the ban to recognize April 28 as the National Day of Mourning, which commemorates work- ers who lost their lives or became sick or injured due to their work. Asbestos is the number one cause of occupational death in Canada, with more than 2,000 people dying every year from diseases caused by exposure to asbestos, including mesothe- lioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. ETFO is concerned for its members,
students and school communities as as- bestos-containing materials, such as ceil- ing tiles and pipe insulation, can be pres- ent within view and within reach in aging school buildings. The intense activity in classrooms, hallways and gymnasiums can contribute to asbestos disturbance and put those in the school at risk. The 2014 ETFO MOU Task Force on Health and Safety Report and Recommendations called for the ministries of Labour and Education to develop a provincial asbestos guidance document for school boards to manage and mitigate the risks of airborne asbestos exposure in schools.
8 ETFO VOICE | SUMMER 2016 From Charity to Justice, May 2016.
OSLA SCHOOL SYMPOSIUM
FIGHT FOR $15 AND FAIRNESS
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour is currently reviewing all the laws that govern work- places. This means there is a real opportu- nity to improve working conditions across the province. Decent wages and hours, paid sick days and stronger enforcement of our rights are all within our reach. On April 15 ETFO leaders and members joined thousands of others at rallies across the province to call for a $15 minimum wage and better working conditions. Thousands of workers in Ontario are
paid only the minimum wage. This is particularly true for women and young workers. They do not have benefi ts, paid sick leave or, in many cases, regular hours. This is the time to press the govern-
ment to make some of the changes needed to provide Ontario workers with decent wages and working hours. Take the time to visit
15andfairness.org. Sign the peti- tion to the government and learn more about precarious work. Check out the Ontario Federation of Labour campaign site,
makeitfair.ca, for a list of events in your community.
On April 15, President Sam Hammond addressed the School Services Sym- posium of the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audi- ologists (OSLA). OSLA represents, pro- motes and supports its members in their work on behalf of all Ontarians, especial- ly those with communication disorders, swallowing diffi culties or hearing health care needs. President Hammond said, “It is unac-
ceptable that, in a society as wealthy as Ontario, families don’t have easy access to vital services like speech language pathol- ogy and audiology. It’s unacceptable that we’re in a situation where hospitals and school boards are being forced by less- than-infl ation increases to program bud- gets – or, in some cases, cuts – to offl oad these services to the community level where they may no longer be affordable or accessible. Children with special needs shouldn’t be shouldering the burden of this government’s austerity agenda. “ETFO’s understanding of the im-
portance of early identifi cation and in- tervention is why we’ve been long-term advocates for full-day Kindergarten and universally accessible child care. It is also why we have advocated for more funding through the education grants for speech language pathology and other profes- sional supports.” Interprofessional collaboration is criti-
cal to the success of our students. For more information about OSLA, visit
osla.on.ca.
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