
Speech
My name is Thomas Wall and I am running for Member at Large.
I am confident that I have the skills, experience, temperament, and judgement necessary to be an effective member of our union executive.
There are many important issues facing occasional teachers today.
As someone who has worked in a PLP class for the last 6 months, I have first hand experience dealing with hazards in the workplace. Violence in our schools is a serious threat to the health and safety of teachers.
The classroom should not resemble a mosh pit.
I will work with our local executive to tackle this issue head on.
I will draw on my decades of classroom experience along with my service on the ETFO Durham Executive (CBC and PAC) to help inform my decision making.
My executive experience also includes two Lieutenant Governor’s appointments.
In 2009 -15 with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, I chaired several committees and public meetings.
I also adjudicated complaints against members.
In 2022, I was appointed to the Ontario Trillium Foundation on the Grant Review Team (allocating over $110 million to community groups).
I’m proud to be a strong advocate of Human Rights, whether it’s marching for LGBTQ+ or showing leadership as a workshop presenter at the DDSB Equity Institute.
I am also passionate about serving my community by volunteering at food banks, coaching disabled athletes and fundraising for charitable organizations such as Denise House.
Recently, I was asked to testify by MPPs on the Standing Committee at Queen’s Park as an expert witness on Bill 45.
I believe that all of these experiences help to make me a strong candidate.
You can count on me to work hard on the issues that matter to occasional teachers.
I humbly ask for your support.
Platform
As a Member at Large my first role would be to represent OTs with integrity and dignity.
I will conduct myself according to the highest ethical standards and the shared values espoused by our Union.
Equity, empathy, professionalism, activism and solidarity will be the touchstones of my tenure, should I be elected.
As someone who has worked in a PLP class for the last 6 months, I can tell you that violence in the workplace is the #1 issue at my school.
The classroom should not resemble a mosh pit.
I will work hand in hand with our local executive to take positive steps to resolve this issue.
Even though I have experience on the ETFO Durham executive with collective bargaining and political action, this position is new to me.
I will be humble and collaborative in my approach.
Please support Thomas Wall for Member at Large.