Negotiations Update - Nov. 2
The LDSB continues to monitor the provincial negotiations closely. We will be providing families with regular updates.
Negotiations Update: November 2, 2022
Dear Families,
We want to provide you with the most up-to-date information regarding potential Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) job action Friday, November 4. Based on current information, even with the current legislation tabled by the Provincial government (Keeping Students in Class Act), we anticipate a full withdrawal of services on Friday, November 4. However, it is our understanding that negotiations are continuing this week, and as we have stated previously, we hope all parties in the provincial negotiations seek a fair and mutually agreeable resolution to the current impasse.
A full withdrawal of services means that CUPE staff would not report to work. In Limestone, CUPE represents 30% of our employees, including Maintenance Workers, Courier Drivers, Caretakers, Office/Clerical Staff, Library Technicians, Early Childhood Educators (ECEs), Educational Assistants (EAs), Interpreters, Intervenors, Intervention Assistants, Communicative Disorders Assistants, Finance Staff (Payroll, Accounting, Purchasing), ITS Staff (Administrators, Specialists, Technicians, and Analysts), Educational Services Staff (Technician and Coordinator), Outdoor Education Staff (Coordinator, Program Manager).
These employees play critical frontline and behind the scenes roles each day, supporting students and/or a wide range of school and system operations. Not having these staff will create significant supervision, student support, health, and safety challenges in schools.
Given the range of services provided by about 750 CUPE staff in Limestone, if any full withdrawal of services means our schools cannot safely operate. This means we will close schools to students on Friday, November 4, and learning will have to occur from home. Learning will be asynchronous for all students, with educators posting assignments/tasks for students to complete, or sharing information in a different format for students or families on Thursday for Friday.
If the provincial labour impasse remains and CUPE job action occurs on Friday, November 4, school closures will result in the following measures:
- schools will be closed to students and the public.
- educators will provide students with direction and assignment of work/learning activities, through an online platform or in some other format communicated by the teacher(s).
- school bus transportation will be suspended.
- all extra-curricular activities held at LDSB schools will be cancelled.
- all Community Use of Schools activities or programs that use LDSB facilities will be cancelled for Friday/Saturday/Sunday and may be extended if job action continues. Community users of LDSB school facilities will need to make alternative arrangements for their activities or events.
- all daycares, EarlyON, and before/after care operating in LDSB schools will not be running on Friday. Families who use these services will need to make alternate arrangements for their children.
- students attending cooperative education placements, School Within a College (SWAC), Dual Credits, and other programs outside of LDSB school facilities will continue.
- students enrolled in LDSB Elementary Virtual and Secondary Virtual Schools will continue classes and learning as normal.
- teaching staff, non-CUPE support staff, and non-unionized staff will report to work as normal.
Although families need to be prepared for schools to be closed to students on Friday, if a negotiated settlement is reached, we will confirm the status of our schools for in-person learning as soon as possible. This communication could be as late as 6:00 a.m. Friday morning through our regular Board channels, including direct e-mail messaging to families.
It is unclear how long a full withdrawal of services might last. As such, families should arrange their own contingency plans for possible ongoing school closures. We will continue to update families with respect to educational programming as circumstances continue to unfold.
We recognize this is a lot of information to digest and that circumstances continue to evolve, which may lead to additional changes / communication as the week proceeds. The latest updates will always be available on the Board website and through LDSB social media channels.
We continue to hope for a positive, fair, mutually agreeable provincial settlement to resolve this current labour impasse. Given the current uncertainties, we appreciate your continuing patience and understanding.
Krishna Burra, Director of Education
CUPE Job Action Update Nov. 1
CUPE Job Action Update Oct. 31 - Potential Strike Nov. 4
CUPE Labour Update Oct. 24