January 20, 2020
Announcement: 3,800 Teachers Oppose Strike Action

To: 7 online petitioners, 9 email respondents, 6 mail canvassers, 114 reporters and commentators; 27 trustee candidates and trustees; 26 of the many voters who are very concerned about our "one-size-fits-all" school boards; and 189 generally interested folks including members of the Social Mavrik Federation.

From: Bob Bray, President, Social Mavrik Federation

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CAMPBELL RIVER: Bob Bray is pleased to announce the results of a fresh look at information reported in published stories about the four strike votes recently taken by professional educators in Ontario.
3,800 Teachers Oppose Strike Action
The 3,800 number is formulated from a careful reading of Ontario news stories in December and January that announced percentages in the strike vote results without any detail on the actual number of votes cast. The 3,800 number is derived from two assumptions used to translate percentages into number of voters.

The first assumption is that the opinion of members who didn't participate in the strike votes would be similar to the opinion of those who voted. The second assumption is that membership in mixed federations is split half and half between teachers and education workers.

In one of the mixed member federations the strike vote results were seen to be:
  • high school teacher members voted 4.5% in opposition to strike action
  • education worker members voted 8% in opposition to strike action

Using the two assumptions (half and half) plus (non-voting member similarity to voting member opinion) there are 1,350 high school teachers who oppose the strike. The OSSTF has 60,000 members of whom half or 30,000 could be high school teachers. Of these 30,000 there are reportedly 4.5% who oppose strike action which would equate to 1,350 high school teachers.

Applying both assumptions to the other mixed member federation, there are 830 elementary school teachers who oppose the strike. The ETFO has 83,000 members of whom half or 41,500 could be elementary school teachers. Of these 41,500 there are reportedly 2% who oppose strike action which would equate to 830 elementary school teachers.

Applying one assumption (non-voting member similarity to voting member opinion) there are 315 Franco-Ontarian teachers who oppose the strike. The AEFO has 10,500 members. Of these 10,500 there are reportedly 3% who oppose strike action which would equate to 315 Franco-Ontarian teachers.

Applying the one assumption again there are 1,305 English Catholic teachers who oppose the strike. The OECTA has 45,000 members. Of these 45,000 there are reportedly 2.9% who oppose strike action which would equate to 1,305 English Catholic teachers.

These numbers are presented below.
Click here to see a larger version of the above image.
It is highly probable that these 3,800 teachers would appreciate the opportunity, since they have decided to practice their profession in the public school system, to have a choice on the one hand for a convenient neighborhood school operated by their local school board or, on the other hand, for a character-building charter school operated independently by a non-profit society.
Public Independent Charter (PIC) schools - a petition
This online petition includes a history of charter schools in Canada and was viewed 93 times last week. It can be inspected by clicking on the blue button below.
New petitioners are shown in red lettering

So far 24 +4 citizens in Ontario and British Columbia have added their name and address to this petition to call on the Ontario Government to allow charter schools in Ontario.
Petitioners'
Province


---------------------





Ontario








---------------------


British
Columbia


---------------------
All ow Ministry
To Approve
Up To 20 Public
Charter Schools
-------------------------





SUPPORT = 19 + 1








------------------------


SUPPORT = 5 + 3



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Petitioner Demographics


Name of City or Town
--------------------------------------------------
Bowmanville = 1
Cochrane = 1
London = 1
Malahide = 1
Mississauga = 1
North York = 1
Oshawa = 1
Ottawa = 1
Sarnia = 1
St. Catherines = 1
Thorold = 1
Toronto = 6 + 1
Union = 1
Welland = 1
--------------------------------------------------
Campbell River = 1
Chilliwack = 2
Courtenay = 1
North Vancouver + 1
Vancouver = 1
Victoria + 2
--------------------------------------------------
Public Independent Charter (PIC) schools - a survey
The email survey questionnaire can be inspected by clicking on the blue button below.
New respondents are shown in red lettering

So far 9 citizens in British Columbia have emailed their position on independent publicly funded K-12 charter schools and the results are shown below.
Respondents'
Province



---------------------
British
Columbia
---------------------
Allow Ministry
To Approve
Up To 20 Public
Charter Schools

-------------------------
SUPPORT = 8 + 1
OPPOSE = 0
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Respondent Demographics
Average Age
Number of Children
Number of Grandchildren
Number of Great Grandchildren
--------------------------------------------------
Avg Age= 69 C= 23 GC= 53 GGC=4
Avg Age=0 C=0 GC=0 GGC=0
--------------------------------------------------
An easier-to-read summary of survey results can be seen here.
School Board Schools = Education Instability
Updates are shown in red lettering

School Board High Schools (31 Secular Boards)
  • work to rule began on Tuesday, December 3
  • Strike Day 1 - Wednesday, December 4
  • Strike Day 2 - Wednesday, December 10, against 9 School Boards
  • Strike Day 3 - Wednesday, December 17, against 10 School Boards
  • Strike Day 4 - Wednesday, January 8, against 8 School Boards
  • Strike Day 5 - Wednesday, January 15, against 16 School Boards
  • Strike planned for Tuesday, January 21, against 13 School Boards (Day 7)
  • issues are compensation, class size and two required e-learning courses
  • Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation OSSTF
  • 60,000 teachers and education workers
  • 1,350 High School teachers are opposed to strike action

School Board Elementary School s (31 Secular Boards)
  • phase 1 job action began on Tuesday, November 26
  • not completing Term 1 report cards
  • not participating in board or ministry courses outside of school hours
  • phase 2 job action began on Tuesday, December 10
  • not planning any new field trips
  • not collecting money for school activities, except charitable causes
  • phase 3 job action began on Monday, January 13
  • work to rule, no before or after school presence
  • Strike planned for Monday, January 20 against 3 Boards (Strike Day 6)
  • Strike planned for Tuesday, January 21 against 4 Boards (Strike Day 7)
  • Strike planned for Wednesday, January 22 against 3 Boards (Strike Day 8)
  • Strike planned for Thursday, January 23 against 4 Boards (Strike Day 9)
  • issues are special needs students, one early childhood educator in every kindergarten classroom, classroom-based violence and compensation
  • Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario ETFO
  • 83,000 teachers and education workers
  • 830 Elementary teachers are opposed to strike action

School Board French Schools (4 Secular and 8 Catholic Boards)
  • 450 French language schools
  • Franco-Ontarian teachers vote 97 per cent in favour of striking if necessary
  • teachers began job action on Thursday, January 16
  • upcoming talks are planned with School Boards and government
  • Association des enseigantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens
  • 10,500 members AEFO
  • 315 Franco-Ontarian teachers are opposed to strike action

School Board English Schools (29 Catholic Boards)
  • strike notice has been issued and teachers are in a legal strike position
  • contract talks were held on January 9th
  • mediator adjourned talks on January 10th
  • job action began on Monday, January 13th
  • teachers refuse to complete report cards
  • teachers refuse to participate in EQAO standardised tests
  • Strike planned for Tuesday, January 21 against all Catholic School Boards province-wide (Strike Day 7)
  • issues include class size, maintaining full day kindergarten. No mention in press releases of any problems with compensation.
  • Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association OECTA
  • 45,000 teachers
  • 1,305 English Catholic teachers are opposed to strike action
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Contact:
Bob Bray, President, Social Mavrik Federation
Phone: 250-900-2422
Mail: 422-1434 Ironwood Street, Campbell River, British Columbia V9W 5T5
Email: bob.bray@socialmavrikbc.ca
Website: socialmavrikbc.ca
The Social Mavrik Federation is a registered society in British Columbia dedicated to cultural politics through endorsing MP / MLA / Trustee candidates and supporting thoughtful petitions, as directed by its members.
Facebook:
I have posted the image below on my Facebook page. I invite you to visit it at facebook.com/bob.bray.334 and, if you do, you are welcome to give it a like, and/or a share and/or a comment.
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Twitter:
My twitter handle is bobbrayCR.

A recent tweet and image :
Jan 15 Day 5 teacher strike in Ontario. #etfo #oecta #osstf #aefo Alternatively an educator might enjoy practicing his or her profession in an independent charter school. #onchartersch #onted #onpoli A Canadian can show Ontarians support by adding his or her name to:
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By January 19th the two versions of this tweet had been seen a combined 490 times.
Backgrounders:
Topics covered in previous Announcements: