The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, along with 3 other teachers unions have filed their concerns to the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
This comes after issues were not addressed by the Ministry of Labour, just days away from the start of the school year.
Kim Douglas, Local President of ETFO for the Keewatin Patricia District School Board says the unions did not make this decision lightly, but it’s necessary in order to protect staff, students and families.
“Physical distancing and the ability to do that in our schools across the province is a concern. Ensuring proper ventilation is helpful and the layering effect of personal protective equipment-although it’s been touted as very important, it’s not the be all end all to protect the worker.”
Douglas says the KPDSB has risen to the challenge of an unprecedented school year.
“Our board has done almost everything we possible can within the confinements that have been given to us.The teachers are really looking forward to being back into the schools and in front of students where they want to be. But they are still concerned with the lack of distancing that’s available. They’re concerned for the health both their students, themselves and their families.”
On top of health and safety concerns at school, Douglas says parents and families are facing a lot of pressure this year.
“There’s an unknown pressure that students need to come to school this year knowing how zip up their coat, or do up their lunch kits and be able to put their mask on and take them off safely. We will try to do that and help as best as we can, but we also have to physically distance. So there’s a lot of pressure on homes to try and teach that in advance, so students can come back to school and be safe.”
Douglas says teacher unions are calling out the provincial government to do more as they head back to the classroom.
“I think it’s pretty interesting that the federal government has given us funding, but the Ford government has not provided enough funding. My hope is that the ford government realizes that we need smaller class sizes to be able to do better physical distancing and be able to open in a safe matter for when we have our students arrive.”
Douglas adds a ruling from the Ontario Labour Relations board would be helpful, so everyone can have a safe September.
