Maret Sädem-Thompson was the president of the Federation of Women Teachers’ Associations of Ontario (FWTAO) during the 1997 two-week teachers’ strike. Her wide-ranging interview portrays the women teachers’ union as important to the feminist movement in Canada and critical to moving women teachers forward.
As one of the last FWTAO presidents, Maret was involvement in the negotiations for the bringing together of the two elementary teachers’ unions. Her analysis of the amalgamation is not what many of us have come to believe took place.
Maret’s entire career was with the FWTAO. The interview covers the full arc of her teaching and involvement in her union.