This page is your source for information and updates about labour issues facing the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. Updates will be posted as information becomes available.
October 6, 2019
School is on: Tentative agreement reached for CUPE support staff workers
A tentative agreement has been reached between the parties involved in negotiations for CUPE support staff. That means schools will be open to students on Monday, October 7, 2019. All job action is off and it returns to a normal school and work day.
October 4, 2019
HPEDSB to close schools to students, Monday, October 7, 2019
Schools of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board will be closed to students on Monday, October 7, 2019 if a provincial agreement is not reached or progress towards an agreement is not reached by midnight on October 6, 2019. read more
A letter will be going home with elementary students today and a voicemail message will be sent to phone numbers on file for secondary school students. Parent letter (Pdf)
Please note: If a provincial agreement is reached over the weekend, schools will be open on Monday.
We will constantly be re-evaluating this today, over the weekend and every day in the coming days. Updates will be posted here, on our Twitter account @HPEschools, and reported through the local media.
Update on CUPE job action
Update 6:00 p.m. Permits for community use of schools are cancelled effective immediately until further notice. This affects permits for indoor use (gyms, classrooms, etc.) but not outdoor use (sports fields, grounds, parking lots). It is necessary because staff are unable to set-up the rooms and clean up afterwards due the job action. Community users cannot do this work as it would be a violation of the collective agreement.
Please note that before/after school child care services are not affected and will continue to be available until further notice.
Update 3:50 p.m. Earlier today we received notice that CUPE representing unionized support staff at all our schools will be on strike beginning Monday, October 7, 2019 if a provincial agreement is not reached this coming weekend.
At HPEDSB, CUPE support staff includes secretaries, educational assistants, early childhood educators, custodians and maintenance workers, among others.
All our schools are presently open and student safety is our priority.
We are currently reviewing possible options in light of this proposed strike, including the possibility of school closures beginning Monday.
Our decision will be based on whether we can ensure the safety of students. These considerations include:
- supervision;
- medical supports and care;
- safe operation of water and sanitation systems, including required water flushing;
- conditions of school buildings and classrooms; and
- overall safety and security.
We are actively monitoring this situation. It is fluid and rapidly changing. We will do our best to communicate actions and resulting implications for our schools, families, staff, and of course our students, as timely and responsibly as possible. We are hopeful that a provincial agreement can be reached very soon.
We appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any questions, please contact your child's principal.
Posted 10:45 a.m. Today at 10:00 a.m. the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) announced its' members, consisting of unionized education support staff workers in Ontario, will go on strike on Monday, October 7, 2019. School board officials at HPEDSB are aware of this announcement and are planing for next steps. All schools remain open at this time. Student safety is our priority. Updates to come as more information is available.
September 30, 2019
Parent/guardian communications today
Parent/guardians: today a letter will be going home with all students in the elementary grades with more details about the CUPE job action. A voicemail message will go to homes of students in the secondary grades. Parent letter for elementary students (Pdf)
September 26, 2019
Read a news release about the job action scheduled to start September 30, 2019.
September 25, 2019
Important information for families regarding CUPE job action
This morning, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) confirmed that job action will begin across the province on Monday, Sept. 30. In the HPEDSB, CUPE members include secretaries, educational assistants, early childhood educators, custodians and maintenance workers, library technicians, IT staff, student supervision monitors, among others.
At this time, HPEDSB staff are reviewing the job action directive from CUPE provincial to members to determine the impact these will have on school and work site operations, and to learning and working. HPEDSB schools will remain open to staff and students during this job action.
We appreciate that timely communication is important to you and we commit to providing you with factual details on the job action as soon as we can.
September 24, 2019
Possible CUPE job action
You may be hearing about potential Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) job action in schools across Ontario beginning next week. In the HPEDSB, CUPE represents secretaries, educational assistants, early childhood educators, custodians and maintenance workers, library technicians, IT staff, student supervision monitors, among others.
At this time, CUPE has not informed the Ontario Public School Boards' Association that they plan to take any job action. Such notice must be done five days in advance. If we become aware of any job action, we will communicate with staff and families as soon as possible. We want to be able to share what the job action is and the possible impacts it will have on learning and working in HPEDSB schools and work sites.
We will monitor this situation and keep you updated as information becomes available.