District Twelves Strike is a Total Swing and Miss

Last October, for the first time since 1993, the Blue Jays took me on a ride. Bat Flips,
extra innings and heart break: it was magical. Coincidentally, I learned that the
Secondary Teachers of Toronto District School Board would be going on a selective
strike on the very same day that the Blue Jays broke my heart and stranded the seasonsaving tying run at third in KC. I never would have dreamed that our strike would
outlast the Blue Jays offseason respite. And much like a meagre can-of-corn pop-fly
that drops between Joey Bats and Ryan Goins, this labour action has shaken my faith in
the likelihood of the bat-flipping walk-off ending.
Since that fateful and disappointing October 23rd, we have spent over five months on
strike. We have not received any of our one percent bonus (not to be added to the
salary grid) and our members who were supposed to move up on the pay grid effective
September 1, 2015 (for the first time in three years) are owed a significant amount of
retro-pay.
Unlike the immediate in-your-face success or failure of thickly-walleted pro athletes,
labour action is a long-game. But I think this game has gone on long enough for us to
be able to assess whether or not this strike is a home run or a complete whiff.
This labour action is a strike-out.

Strike One: Communication

There hasnt been any effective communication. And not surprisingly, the membership
buy-in on this strike is limited at best. While most members are adhering to the strike
rules, they would be hard pressed to explain the reasons for this strike, let alone argue
convincingly for its necessity.
The total lack of an effective launch/roll-out when the action began is deeply
troubling. The membership should believe in the necessity of the strike, instilled
through tangible reasoning and persuasive logic that effects belief and passion in
members. Instead we get the equivalent of this strike is important ...because I said
so. And while that might carry some sway with your four-year-old, it is not the hallmark
of effective leadership for 5000 educated adults.
No communication as the strike began was followed up with three months of virtual
silence, and then the D12 Executive graced us with school visits in February and March
to speak to members about negotiations. But when they arrived they told us there
hadnt been any negotiations; so why bother? Why not come out in October and
November, when support for this action needed to be established? Cynical me says it
wasnt close enough to the upcoming D12 Executive election. Non-cynical me believes
its just complete communicative incompetence or a total disregard for the membership.
Pick your poison; neither theory is acceptable.
When the district leadership has sent us emails, it hasnt been to explain the issues, or
paint a vivid picture of this labour actions importance, rather it has been to boast.
They tell us that they are strategic thinkers with a grand vision for this strike. They
tell us that this strike has been so effective and is having a significant impact at the
board (see strike two), but our leadership still has yet to effectively communicate the
significance of the issues to the membership at large. They have at times attempted to

rebrand this strike, when members suggested it wasnt very effective, they started
calling it the slow-burn strike. I prefer the ninja-strike because the foe doesnt even
know its there. Which brings me to strike two.

Strike Two: Pressure

The purpose of any labour action is to exert pressure on management to win a
favourable contract. Pressure is the key. The union leadership keeps sending us emails
bragging about the boards loathing of our little strike. The proof they offer in support of
their claim is that theyve heard that one principal complained at a meeting once, and
an unnamed source said the board hates your strike.
Poppycock. Hogwash. And a hearty ROFL.
Here is the simple truth about pressure. If you apply enough pressure you will observe
an impact. If you fail to apply enough pressure, nothing will happen. Hmmm, so what
has happened? Absolutely nothing. By the unions account, the board hasnt even
attempted to negotiate. Were only in the sixth month of this slow-burn, highly effective
strategic strike. If there was pressure, the TDSB would be at the table.
Consider the extreme, an old-school picket-line and protest-sign full walkout, schools
shut-down and students staying home. The TDSB would be purposefully negotiating.
And if the boards management didnt want to negotiate then the governing Liberals
would be all over them to settle the mess. I suspect the same is true of a full
extracurricular shut-down. We would be negotiating because the pressure would be
substantial enough to spur the board to sit down and come to an agreement. I am not
advocating for either of these measures in this instance, but it effectively illustrates the
significance of adequate pressure.
The whole premise of this strike is flawed. The D12 Executive insists that our pressure
tactics on the in-school admin. teams get passed up the chain of command and the
board takes notice. They also tell us that the board is completely dysfunctional,
incompetent and autocratic. So if the complaints actually do get passed up the chain,
why should we believe that the boards senior leadership cares? Does anybody think for
a second that the Director of Education cares if a VP trades her or his loafers for
sneakers and collects attendance a few times a day? I wouldnt be surprised if upper
managements only response was to buy TDSB logoed pedometers for them.
But the biggest fly in this strikes pressure causing ointment is the nature of the
administrators themselves. I humbly offer my critical assessment of the boards hiring
practices for Principals; I dont think too many squeaky wheels end up on the Sunshine
List. Administrators are not going to complain about collecting attendance, not having
to organize PD, and not having staff meetings because they need to be considered
capable by their superiors. In fact, I would bet the board now views these little strikes
as just part of an administrators job.
Why would this autocratic and dysfunctional board be so bottom-up when it comes to
dealing with slow-burn ninja strikes? Just because the D12 Executive team wants us to
believe it doesnt make it so. Somewhere between a total walk out and an attendance
walk-about is the right amount of pressure. Which brings me to strike three.

Strike Three: EQAO

How did this little nugget of crapulence escape our slowly-burning strike rules?
Seriously.
Isnt the OSSTF strongly opposed to standardized testing? Doesnt the OSSTF think the
OSSLT is statistically invalid and nothing more than political pandering and an
opportunity to name and shame schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged
neighbourhoods? Heck, if you Google OSSTF opinion of standardized testing wont
you find the following recommendation Stop province-wide standardized testing at all
grade levels in Ontario. in the first listed result?
But judging by our strike rules, the D12 Executive is more opposed to taking attendance
than they are to standardized testing.
Striking the OSSLT would have allowed us to stand against standardized testing while
also depriving the board and the ministry of its precious data. It would have actually
had an impact and while I am not sure it would have brought the board to its knees, at
least it would have been noticeable and might have actually had some sway in
negotiations. But we will never know....unless this fiasco is still a steaming pile of slow
burn come next March. Maybe then, we would nix the OSSLT. Is it inconceivable that
we wont have a contract in place by then? Sometimes the truth is just sad.

Strikeout
One key adage for every hitter is that you would rather strike out on a swing, than by
letting a called strike go by. Truth be told, this article is misnamed, this strike isnt a
swing and a miss, its a called strike. We havent even taken the bat off of our
shoulders. And like the mighty Casey at the bat, I would rather swing and miss than just
sit there watching as I strike out. District 12s leadership, collectively hasnt removed
the bat from its shoulder, but they are telling us this strike is a home run. We should all
know better.
Rob Scott
April 25, 2016
Rob Scott is a baseball fan and a candidate in the upcoming District 12
Executive Election, running for President. If you would like receive more
information, ask any questions, or offer your feedback regarding this article
send a quick hello to valueadded4osstf@gmail.com or you can follow
@robbiescotty. And be sure to vote on May 25 or May 26.