View the complete ETFO Constitution and Bylaws PDF
Updated October 18, 2024.
SECTION 1 ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
4.1.1 Members of bargaining units for which the Federation is the bargaining agent under the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act or its successor and members for which the Federation holds bargaining rights under any other act (including the Labour Relations Act) including members on board-approved leaves of absence, shall be active members of the Federation, subject to the provisions of the Constitution, Bylaws or Directives of the Federation.
SECTION 2 ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 3 HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1 RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
5.1.1 An active member shall have full rights, privileges, and responsibilities of membership in the Federation unless limited by disciplinary action taken in accordance with Article VII: Disciplinary Procedures.
5.1.2 The rights of an active member shall be:
5.1.2.1 to attend, participate, and vote at meetings of the local;
5.1.2.2 to attend meetings of the Representative Council and the Annual Meeting;
5.1.2.3 to lodge a complaint against another member, through the Federation, in accordance with Article VII: Disciplinary Procedures;
5.1.2.4 to request Federation support, through the grievance arbitration process;
5.1.2.5 to request Federation support for employment-related matters including:
5.1.2.5.1 termination or resignation of employment;
5.1.2.5.2 protection from being slandered, libelled, or harassed in any form; and
5.1.2.5.3 protection from fraudulent or malicious allegations or charges;
5.1.2.6 to request Federation support in any problem directly related to professional duties;
5.1.2.7 to request Federation support in an investigatory or disciplinary procedure undertaken by the Ontario College of Teachers and/or the college of Early Childhood Educators;
5.1.2.8 to request Federation support for employment-related matters which are alleged to have occurred when the individual was a member of the Federation or its predecessors; and
5.1.2.9 to approve, after duly called information meetings, the commencement and conclusion of any provincial job action by an all-member vote.
5.1.3 To vote to ratify any Memorandum of Settlement of central terms by method established under the bylaw.
5.1.4 To be nominated to hold office in the local and in the Federation.
5.1.5 To serve on task forces, committees and work groups of the local and the Federation.
5.1.6 To receive an Annual Report including an audited financial statement of the ETFO Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT).
5.1.6.1 to receive the annual report including the audited financial statement of the ETFO Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT) and the current annual actuarial evaluation report.
5.1.7 An active member who accepts a position as a temporary or acting principal/vice-principal which involves any responsibility for the evaluation and/or disciplining of other members, shall have the rights, privileges and responsibilities of membership suspended for the duration of the appointment.
5.1.8 An active member who accepts a position as a temporary or acting principal/vice-principal may not also be the workplace steward for the duration of the appointment.
5.1.9 To participate in all-member town hall meetings regarding potential changes to the Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT). This meeting shall include identified “risk factors” challenging the sustainability of the plan. These meetings shall be scheduled if the claims fluctuation reserve falls below 15 per cent (15%) for the ELHT.
SECTION 2 RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
5.2.1 The rights of an associate member shall be:
5.2.1.1 to attend Federation functions, by invitation, in a non-voting capacity;
5.2.1.2 to receive Federation publications;
5.2.1.3 to request that the Federation recommend that voluntary membership be granted in OTF; and
5.2.1.4 to serve, by invitation, on Federation task forces, committees, and work groups.
SECTION 3 RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP
5.3.1 The rights of an honorary life member shall be:
5.3.1.1 to attend Federation functions in a non-voting capacity;
5.3.1.2 to receive Federation publications;
5.3.1.3 to serve, by invitation, on Federation task forces, committees, and work groups; and
5.3.1.4 to attend the Annual Dinner as a guest of the Federation.
9.1 The Annual Meeting shall be held in person in August of each year.
9.2 All active members in good standing in the Federation may attend the Annual Meeting.
9.3 Accredited delegates to the Annual Meeting shall be determined in accordance with Bylaw IV: Delegates.
9.4 A majority of the registered delegates to the Annual Meeting shall constitute a quorum.
9.5 The duties of the Annual Meeting shall be:
9.5.1 to ratify the priorities of the Federation;
9.5.2 to elect the Executive;
9.5.3 to determine all membership fees;
9.5.4 to approve the annual budget;
9.5.5 to receive the financial statement as certified by the auditor;
9.5.6 to appoint the auditor;
9.5.7 to create special committees;
9.5.8 to amend the Constitution and Bylaws of the Federation;
9.5.9 to approve, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, Directives of the Federation;
9.5.10 to receive a report on the disposition of funds in the Building Fund;
9.5.11 to transact other business as determined by the approved agenda.
9.6 Resolutions to the Annual Meeting may be received from:
9.6.1 a local which has passed the motion at a general meeting;
9.6.2 the Executive;
9.6.3 the Representative Council which has passed the motion at a Council Meeting; and
9.6.4 a standing committee or special committee of the Annual Meeting.
9.7 Resolutions must be received in the provincial office by March 1.
9.8 New business motions will be accepted at the Annual Meeting until the conclusion of the third day of the Annual Meeting under the following conditions:
9.8.1 new business motions to amend the Constitution and Bylaws are not acceptable;
9.8.2 new business motions must be filed on the appropriate form signed by five (5) accredited delegates representing at least three (3) locals;
9.8.2.1 new business motion forms shall be made available to members at least four (4) hours prior to the commencement of the Annual Meeting.
9.8.3 Time will be scheduled at the end of the second, third and fourth day of the Annual Meeting to consider new business motions; and
9.8.4 new business motions and rationale must be printed and distributed to delegates prior to being considered.
9.9 Resolutions to the Annual Meeting shall be moved and seconded by an accredited delegate prior to debate.
9.10 Notwithstanding 9.9 above, the chairperson of a standing committee who is not an accredited delegate may move at the Annual Meeting a resolution, which has been received from the standing committee.
9.11 If a legal opinion related to a resolution to the Annual Meeting has been received by the provincial office, such opinion shall be given to the local that proposed the resolution no later than five (5) business days after the provincial office has received the legal opinion and shall be distributed to delegates attending the Annual Meeting.
9.12 The Annual Meeting agenda shall include a period of up to thirty (30) minutes for questions and answers on budget and finances to occur immediately after the initial presentation of the budget by the first vice-president.
9.13 The Annual Meeting agenda shall include a period of up to thirty (30) minutes for questions and answers on the report of the general secretary to occur immediately after the report of the general secretary.
9.14 The Annual Meeting agenda include, as a timed item, a pension update by the OTF Table Officer, followed by a period of up to fifteen (15) minutes for questions and answers.
9.15 That a delegate at the ETFO Annual Meeting, within their allotted two (2) minute maximum time, may call the question (close debate) only if they have not used any of this time to also speak to the motion.
9.16 The Annual Meeting agenda shall include a period of up to thirty (30) minutes for questions and answers to a panel of the released Executive members, through the president during non-election years.
9.17 The Annual Meeting agenda include, as a timed item, an Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT) benefits report including a current audited financial statement, followed by a period of up to fifteen (15) minutes for questions and answers.
9.17.1 During election years, this timed item shall appear on the agenda on the day prior to elections occurring.
9.18 During a specified time-limited question and answer session, each speaker shall be limited to two (2) minutes on any one occasion for their question, the response, and any supplemental questions and responses.
11.1.1 A local is a certified group of members organized under the Ontario or Canada Labour Relations Act.
11.1.2 A consolidated local is a local formed by the consolidation of two (2) or more bargaining units organized under the Ontario or Canada Labour Relations Act.
11.3.1 The local shall hold an annual meeting.