Labour Update for Families

To all Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Families,

We would like to thank you for your understanding and patience as we experience job actions by three provincial union groups. It is not business as usual, but we continue to focus on student safety, learning and maintaining positive environments for our students, staff and community. Principals and vice-principals remain committed during these challenging times. We thank them for their leadership, time and dedication.

We would also like to provide families with an update to the legal job sanctions that we are experiencing in HWDSB.

Members of OSSTF Office, Clerical and Technical Unit (OCTU)
Sanctions as of Oct. 5 mean that school office staff will not buzz to open the doors at our schools, maintain school websites/newsletters or photocopy/distribute Board documents. We have distributed signs for schools to display, making visitors aware that they may have to wait longer than usual for entry to schools. Office staff will continue to answer phones and support the health and safety of students. However, we are committed to keeping our elementary school doors locked.

Members of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), at all schools and facilities Sanctions as of Sept. 29 mean that custodians will not sweep hallways or entrances, clean chalkboards or whiteboards or participate in school composting programs. Staff will continue to clean classrooms and washrooms, will empty garbage cans and will comply with all Health and Safety procedures. We will continue to provide information to parents about actions that change the regular operation of our schools, using information channels detailed below.

You may see some impact on the physical condition of schools. We appreciate your patience, and want all parents to know that school administrators are taking on extra duties due to the job action. We appreciate the offers of help we are receiving from some parents, but volunteers cannot do the duties of staff during a legal job action. However, we have begun to send some of our management staff to clean the hallways of our schools.

Members of Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
Sanctions as of Sept. 21 mean that elementary teachers will not update classroom websites, distribute class newsletters or prepare report card comments. Also, teachers will not complete Individual Education Plans (IEPs) by the 30th instructional day but will complete them at their own pace. Please be assured that students have and will continue to receive appropriate program accommodations.

We hope that negotiations will continue. However, ETFO had stated that rotating one-day strikes are POSSIBLE at some school boards in October if negotiations do not progress. If this event occurs in HWDSB, we will share information for families using the channels noted below.

Members of Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) has ratified its agreement with the provincial government. HWDSB and OSSTF are now working towards a local agreement. We will continue to provide you with accurate and timely information as we are able.

Elementary Cross Country
Due to sanctions, all elementary school cross-country meets have been postponed until spring 2016 and extra-curricular activities will not occur on Wednesdays.

Stay Updated
HWDSB will post information and updates on its Labour Update website www.hwdsb.on.ca/about/labour-update. We will also tweet significant developments for our Twitter followers @HWDSB.

In addition, we strongly suggest that all families subscribe to receive email updates from HWDSB and from their school. Email subscribers receive updates whenever news is posted on these sites. Please subscribe at www.hwdsb.on.ca/media/subscribe/.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Sincerely,

Todd White, Chair of the Board

Manny Figueiredo, Director of Education