Grand Erie District School Board remains focused on student achievement and student safety. It’s important to keep students and families aware about the current provincial labour situation affecting our schools. We hope a resolution can be made quickly for the benefit of our students.
Labour Updates
Update as of Wednesday, March 27, 2013:
A Statement from the Chair, Rita Collver, on behalf of Grand Erie District School Board Trustees:
"Grand Erie District School Board Trustees are pleased with the announcement from the union leadership of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), which states: ‘ETFO is suspending the advice to members regarding their participation in voluntary/extra-curricular activities.’ The announcement is welcomed news to our students, parents, staff and community members.
Trustees are encouraged by the approach and the positive tone between ETFO and the government at this time. As discussions move forward, Trustees will continue to advocate that our voice is heard to ensure that students are considered first.”
Update as of Friday, March 1, 2013:
A Statement from Rita Collver, Chair of the Board:
“All of our staff members continue to focus on student learning and safety.
OSSTF’s announcement built on the goodwill and commitment of working with the government to promote teachers’ involvement in sports, clubs and other activities for the betterment of the school experience.
We are seeing significant re-engagement of our staff in sports, clubs and activities.
We are extremely disappointed in the Executive of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario who have advised their members to continue to take a pause on sports, clubs and activities that directly affect our students.
Students, parents, families and communities deserve an explanation from the government and from the provincial union.
Our hope is for the Provincial government and the elementary union to continue their talks and come to a resolution on behalf of the students.”
Update as of Monday, February 25, 2013:
A Statement from the Board of Trustees:
"Grand Erie District School Board Trustees applaud the union leadership of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) for suspending their political action and encouraging their members to re-engage in the leadership of student sports, clubs and other activities.
Student participation in these activities offers a greater sense of belonging, increases engagement and improves overall success in school.
We appreciate that students, parents and the community have demonstrated patience during this time of uncertainty in our schools.
We all look forward to continuing to work with our local union leaders to re-engage in student clubs, sports and other activities to provide the best education possible.”
Update as of Tuesday, January 15, 2013:
Update as of Friday, January 11, 2013:
Schools remain open to students on Friday, January 11, 2013. ETFO members are to return to work as the political protest has been called off based on ruling from the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Transportation will run as scheduled.
Update as of Monday, January 7, 2013:
The Ministry of Education announced on January 3, 2012 that, in keeping with the provisions of Bill 115, Putting Students First Act, an order was granted to set the terms of collective agreements across the education sector for a period of two years.
New employee contracts are being imposed until August, 2014.
Grand Erie remains focused on student learning and safety. Families may continue to experience a disruption in their child’s extra-curricular activities as participation is voluntary and remains a decision of the individual teacher and/or staff member.
Update as of Saturday, December 15, 2012:
Update as of December 14
Secondary Student Protests:
In response to the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation’s decision to withdraw from extra-curricular sports, clubs and activities as a form of job action to Bill 115, students have demonstrated their disappointment by staging protests.
School Administration has been working with the students to encourage them to express their frustration in appropriate ways without adversely affecting the student’s education. Grand Erie upholds an expectation that students need to be in class learning.
Parents/guardians should be aware that they will be contacted by the Administrator is their child participates in a protest during class time.
Update as of December 10
Statement from the Chair of the Board, Rita Collver and the Director of Education, John Forbeck:
“The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), which represents elementary teachers, occasional teachers and Early Childhood Educators in Grand Erie, has issued a statement to alert parents of a one-day strike to demonstrate their opposition to Bill 115, Putting Students First Act.
The elementary teachers’ union in the Grand Erie District School Board will be in a legal strike position at the end of this week. For any strike action on or following that date, Grand Erie will receive notification 72 hours prior to the date of the strike. We will notify elementary families as soon as we have this information.
Grand Erie District School Board remains committed to student learning and student safety. School and Board staff will continue to actively monitor the level of job action taken by the elementary teachers’ union. Families should think about contingency plans when students are unable to attend school on the day."
Update as of December 5, 2012
Update as of November 30, 2012
Statement by the Chair of the Board, Rita Collver, and the Director of Education, John Forbeck:
"Grand Erie District School Board remains committed to student learning and student safety. The Board has contingency plans in place to ensure students are safe.
There have been reports in the media from provincial union leaders and the Minister of Education that are causing a degree of uncertainty and speculation with respect to the next stage of job action.
We are not aware of the specific details or a date when job actions will escalate to impact Grand Erie schools. Families can be assured that the Board is monitoring the actions of secondary and elementary teachers’ unions and we will use every communication channel possible to make families aware of any developments.
Families may wish to have contingency plans in place in the event children are unable to attend school.
For more information specifically to elementary or secondary job action, please continue to scroll down to that section on this website."
Update as of November 16, 2012:
Background
Some of Grand Erie District School Board’s employee groups have taken a form of political or job action in response to Bill 115, Putting Students First Act, 2012. The political or job action may affect your child and this website is your reliable resource for information during this time.
We encourage you to speak with your child’s principal at any time for clarification on what is happening in your school.
Employee Groups in Grand Erie District School Board
The following is a list of employee groups in Grand Erie and a breakdown of the specific employees they represent:
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
• Elementary Teachers
• Occasional Elementary Teachers
• Early Childhood Educators
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF)
• Secondary Teachers
• Occasional Secondary Teachers
• Professional Student Services Personnel (PSSP)
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
• Office Clerical/Technical
• Educational Assistants (EAs)
- Communications Disorders Assistants
- Food Technicians
- Facilities (Maintenance and Caretakers/Custodians)
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) – Update
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
· Elementary Teachers
· Occasional Elementary Teachers
· Early Childhood Educators
Elementary, Occasional Elementary Teachers and Early Childhood Educators
Employee contracts were imposed by the Minister of Education on January 3, 2012. As a result, Elementary teachers, occasional teachers and early childhood educators have returned to working within the terms of their collective agreement. ETFO has indicated they will continue to not participate in voluntary/extra-curricular activities.
Additional Resources:
• Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) – Update
Employee Groups Impacted:
· Secondary Teachers
· Occasional Secondary Teachers
· Professional Student Services Personnel (PSSP)
Secondary Teachers
Employee contracts were imposed by the Minister of Education on January 3, 2012. As a result, OSSTF members have returned to working within the terms of their collective agreement. OSSTF has indicated they will continue to not participate in voluntary/extra-curricular activities.
Additional Resources:
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Update
Employee Groups Impacted:
- Clerical/Technical
- Educational Assistants (EAs)
- Facilities (Maintenance and Caretakers/Custodians)
- Food Technicians
- Communicative Disorders Assistants
Grand Erie District School Board ratified three local agreements with Grand Erie’s Canadian Union Public Employees (CUPE) Local 5100 at a Special Board Meeting on January 14, 2013.
The three local agreements, each referred to as a Memorandum of Settlement, represent more than 700 CUPE employees in three bargaining units within Grand Erie District School Board: Facility Services (Maintenance and Custodians/Caretakers), Educational Assistants, Communicative Disorders Assistants and Food Technicians, and Office, Clerical and Technical.
The provincial agreement between the Ministry of Education and the CUPE provincial union will accompany the local Memorandums of Settlement as well as the previously agreed-upon collective agreement from 2008-12. These three agreements comprise CUPE Local 5100’s collective agreement in effect September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2014.
Bill 115, Putting Students First
About Bill 115, Putting Students First Act, 2012
Bill 115: Putting Students First Act, 2012 was passed by the Ontario Legislature on September 11, 2012. The Act took effect September 1, 2012.
It outlines the terms and processes for labour negotiations in Ontario schools as well as terms for staff to follow including: a two-year wage freeze, unpaid leave days, reduction in sick days, and the phased elimination of the retirement gratuity.
Grand Erie District School Board’s Response to Bill 115
On August 21, 2012, the Board of Trustees wrote a letter to the Minister of Education to express to serious concern with an issue raised in relation to the passage of Bill 115.
Regulation 274/12: The regulation requires boards of education to use the seniority of occasional teachers as a required factor in hiring teachers for permanent and long-term occasional (LTO) positions, second only to having the required teaching credentials.
In a letter submitted to the Minister of Education dated October 2, 2012, the Board of Trustees stated the following:
“…We strongly disagree with your proposal to impose the use of seniority to hire supply teachers for contractual positions. How is this in the best interest of our students? Our students need and deserve the best teacher available. Seniority is not a qualitative criterion. School boards must be free to appoint the best candidate.”
Education Sector Unions Launch Legal Challenge to Bill 115
On October 11, 2012, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) launched a Supreme Court challenge to Bill 115.
In their position, “Bill 115 strips teachers, education workers, support staff and educational professionals of the right to bargain collectively.”
Additional Resources:
Bargaining Process Overview
Grand Erie District School Board remains committed to negotiating fair, competitive and affordable collective agreements in order to continue its mandate of providing quality education to all of its students.
A collective agreement is a written contract of employment covering a group of employees who are represented by a union. This agreement contains provisions governing the terms and conditions of employment. It also contains the rights, privileges and duties of the employer, the union and the employees.
Collective bargaining is a process in which a union and an employer negotiate or renew a collective agreement. The parties usually focus on such issues as rights and entitlements that include, but are not limited to wages, working conditions, grievance procedures and benefits.
An overview of the Bargaining Process can be best explained by visiting the Ministry of Labour’s website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Elementary School Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect to be happening in my child’s classroom?
Please be assured that our focus remains on high quality teaching and safety in every classroom.
Why are extra-curricular activities cancelled?
Staff leadership at the elementary level of extra-curricular activities, such as coaching sports and clubs, has always been voluntary. In response to contracts imposed by the Ministry of Education, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario has withdrawn from extra-curricular activities. We hope our teachers will continue to offer or return to offering extra-curricular activities.
How will we know what activities are affected?
Families will be notified about changes to activities in a variety of ways that may include a phone call home, a post on the school website or a message/letter sent home.
Are activities cancelled outright or will they be rescheduled to a later date in the school year?
We hope our teachers will continue to offer or return to offering extra-curricular activities. Some events could be rescheduled and others may not. We will update students and families as we receive new information.
Will School Council Meetings continue as planned?
Yes. School Council meetings will continue to be held. This information is often communicated by the principal in school newsletters or on your school’s website. You can contact your school for more information.
Will charitable groups and community members still be able to use school facilities (inside and outside) after school hours as is the case now?
Yes. There are currently no changes to the Board’s Community Use of Schools Program. Any changes would be communicated directly to users by the Community Use of Schools Coordinator.
Secondary School Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect to be happening in my child’s classroom?
Please be assured that our focus remains on high quality teaching and safety in every classroom.
When are extra-curricular activities set to resume in secondary schools?
On February 25, 2013, the president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) “encourage(d) members to review recent information and decide if they are willing to return to participating in the activities we know they feel so passionately about.”
We are seeing signs of significant re-engagement of our staff in sports, clubs and activities at the secondary level.
Can I as a parent/community member volunteer and coordinate an extra-curricular activity at the school?
No. There is a Board Procedure (SO 126) that states: “Volunteers are not responsible for the supervision of students or the delivery of programs without teacher direction.” All volunteers, current and new, are subject to the Board’s volunteer and police screening requirement (Procedure SO126).
*Frequently Asked Questions will be updated as new information is presented.