Catholic teachers union executive in turmoil

Marshall Jarvis, general secretary for Ontario English
Catholic Teachers' Association.

TORONTO - The association representing the province’s Catholic teachers is being rocked by internal disputes that are getting in the way of crucial negotiations with the government, union insiders say.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) represents about 45,000 members in the province’s Catholic elementary and secondary schools.

The union executive is in turmoil because it’s been unable to end the contract of its most senior staff member, General Secretary Marshall Jarvis.

According to highly placed union sources, the executive voted not to renew Jarvis’ contract when it ends in February. He’s held the job for six years.

The union’s personnel committee decided against the executive’s decision not to renew his contract and decided to hire him again.

The situation would be comparable to Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair staying on after the police services board voted not to renew his contract.

Multiple sources within the union described Jarvis as “controlling.”

“He has good qualities, but he’s controlling and people are extremely scared of him,” said one person who spoke on condition of anonymity.  (more...)

Catholic teachers union executive in turmoil