The Greater Essex ETFO Local represents approximately 1,500 teachers instructing 22,500 elementary students located at 63 sites across Essex County in Southwestern Ontario. Our goals are to promote and protect public education, as well as to foster a climate of social justice and provide leadership in such areas as anti-poverty, non-violence and equity.

The Objects of Greater Essex ETFO are:

• To represent the members of the Local;
• To secure through collective bargaining the best possible terms and conditions of employment;
• To advance the cause of education and the status of teachers in the Local;
• To promote a high standard of professional ethics and a high standard of professional competence;
• To foster a climate of social justice and provide a leadership role in such areas as anti-poverty, non-violence and equity;
• To promote and protect the interest of all members of the Local and the students in their care;
• To co-operate with other organizations having the same or like objects;
• To fulfill the constitutional requirements of ETFO;
• To be an active part of the ETFO structure;
• To fulfill Local obligations under the Ontario Labour Relations Act in accordance with the policies and procedures established from time to time by ETFO; and
• To support and promote equal opportunity through employment equity.

ETFO Human Rights Statement

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario is committed to:

• Providing an environment for members that is free from harassment at all Federation sponsored activities;
• Fostering the goodwill and trust necessary to protect the rights of all individuals within the organization;
• Neither tolerating nor conditioning behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of individuals or the integrity of relationships; and
• Promoting mutual respect, understanding and co-operation as the basis of interaction among all members.

Harassment and discrimination on the basis of a prohibited ground are violations of the Ontario Human Rights Code and are illegal. The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario will not tolerate any form of harassment of discrimination, as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code, at provincial or local Federation sponsored activities.

Local Land Acknowledgement

In the Spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, the Greater Essex Local of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario acknowledge that we are on land and surrounded by water, originally inhabited by Indigenous Peoples who have travelled this area since time immemorial.  This territory is within the lands honoured by the Wampum Treaties; agreements between the Anishinaabe (Ah-nish-e-naa-bay), Haudenosaunee (Hoe-den-oh-show-nee), Lenni (Len-eh) Lenape (Le-naw-pay) and allied Nations to peacefully share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes.  Specifically, we would like to acknowledge the presence of the Three Fires Confederacy (Ojibwe (Oh-jib-way), Odawa (Oh-dah-wah), Potawatomi (Paw-taw-watt-oh-me) and Huron/Wendat (Wen-dat) Peoples.  We are dedicated to honouring Indigenous history and culture while remaining committed to moving forward respectfully with all First Nations, Inuit and Métis.