About HWETL

HWETL members are part of a legacy of labour advocacy and solidarity in our country that has been active for well over a century.

The Hamilton-Wentworth Elementary Teachers’ Local is a proud member of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), formed in 1998 when the Federation of Women Teachers’ Associations of Ontario (FWTAO) and the Ontario Public School Teachers’ Federation (OPSTF) merged. The FWTAO was founded in 1918, and was itself formed from the merging of multiple associations founded as early as the 1880s.

Organized Labour, Social Justice and Gender Equality

HWETL members belong to a lineage of workers who have always fought for fair pay, good-faith bargaining and better working conditions for all. Our history, however, also connects closely with the larger fight for social justice and equality in our society as a whole.

Many of the earliest teachers’ federations were formed by women who, both for their identity as women and their role as workers, faced multiple intersections of inequality and injustice. This complex layering of social issues has always been and continues to be an essential part of what we are fighting to improve as a union. The work of trade unions in Canada has helped shape much of what we value most in our country today. While our public education system is undeniably a vital component of that identity, the progress we strive for goes beyond just the classroom and has always been about bettering society for us all in whatever way we can.

Standing Together When It Matters Most

Things have rarely been easy for teachers, but our members have never let that stop us.

HWETL members show up loudly and in great numbers when we need to be heard. We play our part in pushing back at the powers-that-be by fighting to maintain and strengthen our education system when it is under threat from cut backs, government overreach and unfair legislation. Whether that means public demonstrations, work-to-rule job actions or full strikes, we have always been and continue to be prepared to stand together in solidarity when it matters most.

A Continuing Legacy

Over the years, HWETL members have shaped our union into a strong and active local, representing the voices of thousands of elementary educators across Hamilton and the surrounding communities. Our history is not simply a history of negotiations and contracts. It is a history of teachers standing together through changing times, supporting colleagues, advocating for better schools and contributing to the life of our communities.

Today, HWETL continues that work on behalf of our members, building on the commitment and vision of the workers who came before us. While forces may continue to try to erode our rights and public education system, we remain steadfast in our commitment to support educators, strengthen public education and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.