This web page is your source for information and updates on current labour issues impacting elementary (Kindergarten - Grade 8) families in the Rainy River District School Board. Updates will be posted as information becomes available.
March 20, 2020 - Tentative deal reached
The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has reached tentative central agreements with the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Public School Boards' Association and the Council of Trustees' Associations. Separate tentative central agreements have been negotiated for ETFO's teacher/occasional teacher and education worker members.
ETFO will review details of its tentative central agreements and ratification vote process with ETFO local leaders and members next week. ETFO is suspending strike action immediately pending the results of its central ratification votes.
ETFO will make no further comments to the media regarding tentative central agreements at this time.
February 24, 2020 - ETFO to implement Phase 6 of strike action
Today, ETFO announced that teachers and education workers will commence Phase 6 of Work To Rule strike action.
Effective Wednesday, February 26, 2020, ETFO teacher and occasional teacher members will:
- do only their scheduled teaching and supervision assignments during their regular instructional time. Teacher and occasional teacher members will not agree to, or participate in, any additions/modifications to their schedule, with the exception of attending meetings to support students with special needs or to discuss student safety.
Effective Wednesday, February 26, 2020, ETFO teacher and occasional teacher members will NOT:
- do any coverage for absent members, regardless of the reason for the absence (except in the case of an occasional teacher hired to replace an absent teacher).
- accept/disperse students from/to other classrooms when a member is absent, regardless of the reason for the absence.
- miss their regularly scheduled planning or preparation time.
- spend personal funds to purchase instructional materials or resources for students, the classroom, the school or the board.
- upload data related to assessments on board systems. Teacher and occasional teacher members will continue to do assessments using their professional judgement. Members may complete assessments for supports and/or funding for students with special needs or ELL students.
ETFO has indicated that their members will start participating in 20-minute pickets outside their schools for at least one day a week, although they say it will not impact classes. ETFO has also indicated that it will not hold rotating one-day strikes over the next two weeks but is prepared to further escalate its job action on March 9, 2020 should no tentative agreement be reached.
For full details on ETFO Phase 6 work-to rule please see ETFO website.