What it Means to Be the First Vice-President of ETFO

The job of ETFO first vice-president blends responsibility with opportunity. Doing the job well also means keeping a bag packed. As first vice-president I have the opportunity to represent the interests of public elementary teachers – our members – in dealings with the government, opposition parties, and the provincial stakeholders in education. Last spring, as part of Campaign 200,the greatest of opportunities presented itself when I was part of the ETFO team that negotiated and created the historic framework signed with the provincial government and Education Minister Gerard Kennedy. I took the lead for ETFO at the table where the key issue of supervision time was settled. You never know where or when opportunities to make a difference will happen.

As we approached the June deadline for negotiations imposed by the government, I was listening to Gerard Kennedy’s comments in a scrum at the end of question period. This led to an invitation from the Minister to an informal one-on-one meeting on a bench outside the legislature to further discuss the implications of a cap on supervision duty, which in turn led to a breakthrough at a local bargaining table and another settlement. This ability to be flexible and respond to issues as they arise is as important in this job as it is for any classroom teacher. When the president’s day changes – as it can with the next phone call – so too does mine.

And because I am required to formally represent the president and the organization on short notice, it is important to have knowledge across the entire spectrum of elementary and public education issues as well as a complete understanding of how ETFO works. Fortunately, the formal responsibilities of the position provide the knowledge and experience needed to successfully serve our members. As chair of the budget committee, the first vice-president is responsible for the ETFO budget and must understand fully how the resources of the organization are being used, and why. The first vice-president must also be a parliamentarian, chairing Representative Council meetings and the pre-Representative Council meetings of occasional teacher presidents. The job requires me to travel across the province to make presentations to pre-service teachers at faculties of education. I liaise with the ETFO provincial collective bargaining, occasional teacher, and teacher education/faculty liaison committees.

The first vice-president is also responsible for ETFO appointments to external bodies. In addition,the first vice-president is a governor of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation and a vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Labour. The best part of this job, though, is the opportunity to travel the province meeting our members, providing you with a provincial perspective and, most importantly, seeing and hearing your perspectives. Without question, what my position requires most of all is knowing what you, the members, need and delivering it.