TORONTO — The province's four teacher unions will appeal to the Ontario Labour Relations Board over the government's Guide to Reopening Schools, arguing that it fails to respond adequately to health and safety concerns.
The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association and the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens announced Monday they will ask the labour board to rule that the plan violates the Occupational Health and Safety Act by not taking every reasonable precaution to protect workers.
The unions said they had asked Labour Minister Monte McNaughton earlier this month to require the Ministry of Education to set standards around physical distancing, cohorting, ventilation and transportation, and that school boards be given more time if necessary to implement appropriate health and safety measures.
They said a response was to come by Aug. 28, but the ministry failed to comply with their requests.
The union said the actions they are seeking are in line with those put in place in workplaces and other public spaces in Ontario.
"The measures," they said, "especially those that would help facilitate two metres of physical distancing, also accord with advice given regularly to Ontarians" by Premier Doug Ford and Chief Medical Officer of Health David Williams.
According to the unions, at an Aug. 24 meeting labour ministry officials repeatedly referred to personal protective equipment for teachers and education workers as a key part of the government's strategy.
They noted, however, that the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has stated that PPE is only one of many measures, and the least effective control against a workplace hazard.
The unions said other measures, such as adaptations to the physical space, including improved ventilation, or changes to policies and procedures,are more likely to reduce a worker's exposure to the hazard.
They have advocated for a cap on class sizes of 15 to 20 students.
In the statement, ETFO President Sam Hammond argued that smaller class sizes will help make schools safer.
"Should teachers and education workers not be able to expect at least the same standards and precautionary measures as have been put in place in stores, offices and other spaces?" he asked.
OSSTF President Harvey Bischof said "No worker in Ontario should be expected to sacrifice their health and safety, especially when there are such obvious measures the government could be taking to reduce the risk and prevent potential tragedies."
Premier Ford, who has accused teacher unions of being uncooperative, repeated his complaints at a Queen's Park news conference Monday.
“They just want to fight with everyone but I don’t want to fight with you,” Ford said in comments directed at the union leadership, adding “I want your cooperation like every single person in this country has been cooperating, except the teacher unions.”
Ford maintained the government has done “everything” it can to create the safest environment possible in schools, including funding the hiring of additional teachers and improvements to ventilation systems.
The province's school boards are staggering the start of the school year over the first few weeks of September.
A union source told Tbnewswatch it will be up to the labour board to schedule a hearing on the teachers' appeal, but given the time the process can take, the hearing is not expected to happen before classes start next month.
