Labour Update
This web page is your source for information and updates on current labour issues facing the Peel District School Board. Updates will be posted as information becomes available.
March 26, 2013
ETFO Suspends Advice Regarding Participation in Voluntary/Extra-Curricular Activities
ETFO is suspending the advice to members regarding their participation in voluntary/extra-curricular activities in light of progress made during discussions with the provincial government. Learn more
February 22, 2013
OSSTF local leaders vote to suspend political action regarding voluntary activities
The Provincial Council of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) voted to recommend to members to suspend their political action related to extra-curricular and voluntary activities. Learn more
January 11, 2013
OSSTF Jan. 16 Day of Political Protest CANCELLED
We've been informed by OSSTF that their planned day of political protest on Jan. 16 is cancelled. Schools will be open on Jan. 16.
Attendance at school--Friday, Jan. 11
Attendance will be taken at school today. Students who are not at school because parents believed schools were closed due to labour action will not have today recorded as an absence on their report card. Students who are ill, or are away for another reason, will be marked absent.
Schools will be running the safe arrival program as usual. It may take longer to make all of the calls. Students who are late because of the confusion around open/closed schools won't be marked late.
Peel elementary schools open today--Friday, Jan. 11
The provincial government has been granted a cease and desist order from the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) to prevent elementary teachers from being off work today to participate in a day of protest. 
OLRB Decision
As such, all Peel elementary schools will be open today to staff and students—Friday, Jan. 11. Buses will run and all before-and-after-school programs, and extended day programs will continue. Due to weather conditions, however, buses in Caledon are cancelled. Caledon schools remain open.
We apologize for the short notice, but the timing of this announcement is beyond our control. We look forward to welcoming students to school today.
January 9, 2013
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has notified us that teachers across the province will stage a one-day political protest aimed at the government this Friday, Jan. 11, 2013. Elementary teachers will not be in school on this day. On Friday, Jan. 11, all elementary schools (kindergarten to grade 8) will be closed to students. They will reopen on Monday, Jan. 14. High schools are not affected and remain open.
Letter to families
January 7, 2013
On Thursday, January 3, 2013, the Minister of Education announced that the provincial government will impose two-year contracts on all boards and local bargaining units who were without agreements as of Dec. 31, 2012. With the contracts in place, Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation and Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario sanctions are now lifted.
Secondary teachers will now supervise students outside of the classroom and cover classes for absent teachers. As a result, security personnel, who were temporarily placed at all secondary schools during sanctions to provide supervision, are no longer needed. Their last day in Peel high schools is Jan. 7.
There continues to be much discussion in the media about the re-instatement of extracurricular activities. Although teacher unions/federations have not directed members NOT to participate in extracurricular, they have asked members to push the pause button on voluntary activities. It is important to remember that since participation in extracurricular activities is voluntary, teachers will make individual decisions regarding their involvement.
We remain committed to keeping you up-to-date as we learn more about the two-year contracts, the province’s plan to repeal Bill 115 before the end of January and how this impacts Peel students.
December 18, 2012
All elementary schools (kindergarten to grade 8) are closed to students today. They will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday Dec. 19. High schools are open.
Statement from Janet McDougald, Chair of the Peel District School Board
As a board, we look forward to negotiating fair, local, affordable collective agreements. At this point trustees have no local control. No flexibility. No means to meet local priorities. The province took over provincial bargaining so, in my view, they’re the ones who need to ensure this disruption to public education comes to a swift conclusion.
Every day, we work hard to build confidence in public education, to build trust with our parents and students. This conflict and confusion seriously undermines this work. I hope that this is important enough to the province and teachers’ unions that they meet over the holiday break to help us move forward with agreements that best meet the needs of our students.
As always, our focus remains the success of all students. We will continue to work to negotiate affordable agreements locally—that preserve student safety and ensure student progress. Let’s work together to end this divisive situation in our public schools.
December 15, 2012
ETFO has notified us of our one-day strike date. On Tuesday, Dec. 18, all elementary schools (kindergarten to grade 8) will be closed to students. They will reopen the next day on Wednesday, Dec. 19. High schools are not affected and remain open.
Letters to families:
English
Translations
December 14, 2012
Elementary teachers with the Peel District School Board have been informed by their union that a one-day strike will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012. While the Peel board has not yet received official notice, the board is preparing for the strike to take place on this day.
A letter will be sent home with all elementary students today to let parents/guardians know what the status of our schools will be during the one-day strike.
December 12, 2012
We know that it is important for families to begin planning for the one-day elementary teachers' strike. A letter will be sent home with all elementary students today to let parents/guardians know what the status of our schools will be during the one-day strike.
Since we cannot ensure the safety of students on this day, all Peel board elementary schools will be closed to kindergarten to grade 8 students on the one-day strike. Please do not send your child to school on this day. In addition to elementary school closures:
· Buses will be cancelled. There will be no bus service for students.
· Before-school/after-school and extended day programs offered by third-party providers will be cancelled.
· Hubs and Readiness Centres, and Parenting & Family Literacy Centres will be closed to students and families.
· Teachers may be picketing outside the school.
Elementary schools will re-open the day after the strike.
Secondary schools will remain open to students—they are not affected by the strike.
Once ETFO has provided 72 hours’ notice of the strike date, we will send home another letter to inform families and students. Information will also be posted here and on school websites.
December 10, 2012
The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario has also notified us that a one-day strike will take place in all Peel board elementary schools this December. The Peel board has not yet been told when the strike will happen.
ETFO has said we will be advised 72 hours before the strike date. Once we know when the strike will take place, we will inform families and students about the status of schools as quickly as possible.
December 5, 2012
Elementary
Important notice for parents regarding elementary teacher job action
In addition to the announced elementary teacher job action, the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has notified school boards that a one-day strike will take place in all elementary schools this December.
The Peel District School Board has not yet been told when the strike will happen in Peel elementary schools. ETFO has said we will be advised 72 hours before the strike date. Once we know when the strike will take place, we will inform families and students about the status of schools as quickly as possible.
Secondary
On Dec. 3, 2012, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) announced that all high school teachers in Ontario will stop volunteering to coordinate extracurricular activities starting Dec. 10, 2012, at the latest.
As a result of this labour action, a number of extracurricular activities are being cancelled in Peel schools until further notice. We have sent a letter home with secondary students that lists all affected activities at their schools. The letter will also be posted on school websites.
At this point, OSSTF has said that high school teachers are not planning a one-day strike in December. If this changes and the Peel board is made aware of a strike date, information will be provided to families and posted here.
November 23, 2012
Important notice for parents regarding OSSTF (secondary) job action
Background
As you know, the provincial government’s Bill 115: Putting Students First Act was passed by the Ontario legislature on Sept. 11, 2012. The Act, which includes provisions and parameters consistent with those in the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, is law and took effect Sept. 1, 2012. It dictates the terms and processes for labour negotiations in Ontario’s schools.
Bill 115 provides a new framework for negotiating collective agreements. Since September 2012, the Peel District School Board has been engaged in local collective bargaining with union and federation partners using this new framework.
We are committed to successfully negotiating contracts that reflect our local needs with each of our employee groups, in a manner that is respectful of our working relationships and that keeps our focus on student success. We remain committed to fulfilling our board mission to inspire success, confidence and hope in each student.
Throughout this process, we will update parents with information that affects their children. As we learn more, we will:
· provide updates here
· update school websites—You can subscribe to receive email/text messages by clicking on the “Subscribe” link on the left-hand side of the school website.
· send letters home and/or leave voicemail messages
For information about the collective bargaining and negotiations process, visit the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s website.
Status of negotiations
List of Federations/Unions/Associations
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF)
Secondary Teachers, Professional Student Services Personnel, and Secondary Occasional Teachers
Labour action began in Peel secondary schools on Nov. 26, 2012. A letter was sent home with students on Nov. 23, 2012, and information will be posted here, to ensure you have the information you need about the impact of labour action on school activities.
OSSTF – Professional Student Services Personnel include speech-language pathologists, social workers and psychoeducational consultants.
Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
Elementary Teachers and Elementary Occasional Teachers
We expect elementary teachers to begin labour action in Peel elementary schools on Dec. 10, 2012. A letter sent home to families on Dec. 5 can be found at the top of this page.
Canadian Union of Public Employees
CUPE Local 1628 and CUPE Local 2544
The Peel District School Board continues to bargain with CUPE Local 1628 and CUPE Local 2544.
Educational Resource Facilitators of Peel, Media Support Specialists Association, OPSEU Local 283 and other Associations
The Peel District School Board continues to bargain with all of the above unions and associations.
Status of school activities
Elementary Progress Report Cards
ETFO has advised its members on a variety of topics. One area in which ETFO has provided advice to teachers is in the completion of the Progress Report Card. ETFO has advised teachers to write a total of two comments (one comment for Learning Skills and one comment for one academic subject) on Progress Report Cards. As a result, this year, your child’s Progress Report Card might look different than it did in the past.
The Elementary Progress Report Card is only one aspect of ongoing communication between home and school. As always, we encourage you to discuss your child’s progress with their teachers. They are available to respond, either through a parent-teacher conference at the school or by phone, to any specific questions about the information in your child’s Progress Report Card.
Kindergarten Summary of Progress
ETFO has provided advice to teachers in the completion of fall Kindergarten observations and reports. ETFO has advised teachers to write a single sentence indicating strengths and next steps for improvement, and have told them that they are not expected to comment on every area. As a result, this year, your child’s Summary of Progress might look different than it did in the past.
The Summary of Progress is only one aspect of ongoing communication between home and school. As always, we encourage you to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher. They are available to respond, either through a parent-teacher conference at the school or by phone, to any specific questions about the information in your child’s Summary of Progress.