Local 2100 members have decided: it’s time for all of us to take action together.
Our recent round of collective agreement negotiations has been ongoing since the spring of 2023, and the employer is not taking your demands seriously. After careful consideration, our members have decided that we must take collective action to ensure our voices are heard. Solidarity among our membership is crucial, and as your local leaders, we support our member’s desire to engage in job action.
Here are the actions our members plan to take together from Sept. 27, 2023 forward:
Follow our collective agreement
- Take our breaks and lunches EVERY day
- Work our 7.5 hour day ONLY
- Request all Student Independence Forms (SIFs) and report to the Union if we are denied this access.
- Ask if students have a safety plan and request a copy of it.
- Protect ourselves and students (we have the right to proper training under our collective agreement and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.)
- Complete our work ONLY during paid work hours
- Ensure that we are provided all Board mandated training and that it is completed during paid working hours.
- Complete ALL online reporting including Use of Physical Intervention, Workplace Violent Incident Reports and Safe Schools, and do so during work hours (not on your break).
- Ensure that we are aware of ALL prescriptive restraints, and have had the proper individualized training.
We are not obligated to:
- use our own money or resources to provide classroom supplies/activities
- participate in excursions off school property unless it is explicitly included in our working conditions.
- find a supply employee for our absence. This is the sole responsibility of the employer.
- volunteer for or participate on our own time in groups or extracurricular activities.
- work during our breaks (i.e. carry a walkie talkie or respond to calls during our lunch and breaks.)
Remember:
The Board has reported that “Schools’ EA Allocations are designated to assist mainstream students that are SIF levels 1 and 2 and in contained classes at specified locations”
PDSB policy states “…sensory and calming rooms must be in consultation with Special Needs Education Support Services Department and follow an approval process.” In other words, we should not be directed to exclude students from the classroom solely due to disruptive behaviours (i.e. noises, compliance, pacing).
If you need to meet with your Principal/Admin related to work (i.e. student safety concerns), this should occur during work hours and not during your breaks.
If you are asked to fill in for a member of another bargaining unit, please contact the Union. This includes Lunchroom Supervisors and Travel Assistants.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please reach out to your Local Executive.
What if my supervisor demands that I comply with something I do not believe I am obligated to do?
Reach out to your union representative. If you are not immediately able to speak to a union rep, you may respond with the following: “I do not believe that I am obligated to do X as per the terms and conditions of my employment and am respectfully declining your request until we can clarify this.”
If your supervisor directs you to obey, we suggest you comply and state, “If you are compelling me to do so, I will comply without prejudice to me filing a grievance.” It is recommended that you request to have this direction from your supervisor provided to you in an email. Follow up with the Union.
The Union has shared this information with the PDSB and encourages all parties to reach out to us with any questions.