Class Action: How Ontario’s Elementary Teachers Became a Political Force

by Andy Hanson

In this inspiring history of a union, labour historian Andy Hanson delves deep into the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and how it evolved from two deeply divided unions to one of the province's most united and powerful voices for educators. Today's teacher is under constant pressure to raise students' test scores, while the rise of neoliberalism in Canada has systematically stripped our education system of funding and support. But educators have been fighting back with decades of fierce labour action, from a landmark province-wide strike in the 1970s, to record-breaking front-line organizing against the Harris government and the Common Sense Revolution, to present-day picket lines and bargaining tables. Hanson follows the making of elementary teachers in Ontario as a distinct class of white-collar, public-sector workers who awoke in the last quarter of the twentieth century to the power of their collective strength.

255 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2021

Reviews

[Rikin · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow turns out feminism is real who would have guessed

[biz · Rating 4 out of 5]

an engaging and informative read, especially as a new secondary teacher and union member getting involved in the OSSTF! learning about the feminist history behind the formation of ETFO was enlightening, especially the battles that needed to be fought to achieve the rights that many of us take for granted. the chapters on the mike harris government's cuts to education were chilling, to say the least, especially since we're facing a very similar situation with the ford government today (during a bargaining year!). highly recommend this book to any new teacher working in a public school board.

[🪐 · Rating 3 out of 5]

very good and important documentation of ontario’s elementary teachers fight for rights and equal opportunities. this comes especially as the conservative ford government has been in conflict with teachers since arguably his first term (and you’ll come to know, they aren’t the first conservative government to threaten teachers).

there’s a lot of good stuff here, ie. approaching the value of a women’s teachers union through a feminist lens, and the effects of neoliberalism motivating right-leaning governments to make major shifts to the education systems.

my main problem is that this book uses a lot of labour/union-related language, and doesn’t really define or walk you through their impacts. it’s probably better suited for someone who studies labour rights and/or education policy, but still kind of hard to understand what exactly the teachers are fighting for.

also wish there was a bit more analysis to the intersectional issues faced by elementary teachers; it discusses the standard of “professionalism” held to women, but also how do the salary cuts and threats to prep time impact other women who may hold multiple jobs, are single mothers, etc? this probably a whole other book now that i’m typing it out, but a missed opportunity regardless. still, a great read and research well done!

[Chris Fuerth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a member of a teacher's union in Ontario, particularly an ETFO member, this is an inspiring look at how the people before us fought for the rights we now have. I've been active in ETFO for a quarter century and a lot of our rights were far more recent than I was aware of. Also, it shows us how long governments had been coming for entitlements we have had stripped from collective agreements (such as gratuity days) and it has all the receipts as far as what governments did for and to us.

[James Adair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating history of Ontarios teachers unions. The author at times rushes through decades at a break neck pace, and at times days seem to stretch on for chapters. But in general it is well written, intriguing, and well worth it if you have an interest in labour history in Ontario.