ETFO legal counsel Howard Goldblatt argues that the government’s actions will likely form the basis of its tactics with all of the education affiliates, which means ETFO has a direct interest in the outcome of the OLRB hearing and should be allowed to make submissions. The OLRB denies ETFO, AEFO, OECTA and OSSTF’s applications for intervenor status. Over the course of the next three days, Steven Barrett of Goldblatt Partners LLP, retained by CUPE National in response to the OLRB application, argues that the union is not engaged in an illegal strike, but a political protest. Barrett points out that “to call [CUPE’s political protest] a mid- contract withdrawal of services, as if this was a collective agreement freely negotiated, is a fundamental absurdity.”
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4:
CUPE education worker members engage in a full withdrawal of services. ETFO mem- bers support CUPE on picket lines in large numbers before and after school, and during lunch breaks. ETFO members show up with flags, signs, snacks and steadfast solidarity. A large crowd also descends on Queen’s
Park, including hundreds of workers rep- resenting ETFO, other teacher unions and other unions. ETFO President Karen Brown inspires a chant from the crowd by singing, “Get up! Stand up! Stand up for your rights!” That evening, ETFO’s Provincial Ex-
ecutive confirms its support for a general strike in protest of Bill 28 alongside all On- tario unions.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5:
CUPE members, ETFO members and other members of the education and labour com- munities demonstrate across the province on “Solidarity Saturday.” The OFL holds a special meeting. The
Executive Board of the OFL, as well as the heads of public and private sector unions from across the province – including from ETFO – attend. They discuss the importance of the labour community coming together to support CUPE and the rest of the educa- tion sector. This sentiment is strongly sup- ported by those in attendance. A motion is passed by the OFL Executive
Board to hold a rally on November 12, fol- lowed by a mass Ontario-wide walkout on November 14 to protest Bill 28. Each union follows its own process to
confirm support. Later in the day: ETFO’s Provincial Executive meets to discuss how the Fed-
eration will lend its support to the OFL action on November 14. The Executive de- termines to commence an all-member vote approving a political protest, as required by ETFO’s Constitution. Prior to voting on any job action, infor-
mation meetings with ETFO members must be held. The decision is made to begin the process of completing these steps over the next week in order to be ready for the No- vember 14 province-wide, multi-union po- litical protest.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6:
ETFO prepares to join the OFL’s November 12 rally and November 14 political protest. Picket signs are ordered, a meeting of local presidents is set for the next morning and arrangements begin to conduct information meetings and an all-member online vote as soon as possible. ETFO members will be no-
E ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO 11
THE CANADIAN PRESS/SPENCER COLBY
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