NEWMARKET, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 30, 2012) - The Teacher/Occasional Teacher Bargaining Unit of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) in District 16, York, began its first day of sanctions today. "With Bill 115 the government has placed unreasonable barriers before the union and the Board blocking any chance of achieving a locally suitable deal through a respectful bargaining process." said Colleen Ireland, District 16 President of OSSTF/FEESO.

Current sanctions will have no impact on student learning and achievement. Teachers will be in class teaching, they will be vigilant and they will continue to intervene as always to ensure student safety.

"Our members understand the efforts made by Provincial OSSTF to strike a deal that passed the "substantively identical" litmus test required by Minister Broten. Despite our collective efforts to show savings and to offer a wage freeze the Minister refuses to remove the restrictions that would allow local bargaining as per the Ontario Labour Relations Act."

"At this point District 16 OSSTF members will follow sanctions as outlined by Provincial OSSTF. Our specific path may differ from those of other education unions but we share the common understanding that Bill 115 must be repealed," continued Colleen Ireland, District 16 President of OSSTF/FEESO.

OSSTF/FEESO, founded in 1919, has 60,000 members across Ontario. They include public high school teachers, occasional teachers, educational assistants, continuing education teachers and instructors, early childhood educators, psychologists, secretaries, speech-language pathologists, social workers, plant support personnel, university support staff, and many others in education.