The Minister of Education announced on January 3, 2013 that the government intends to implement provisions of the Putting Students First Act (Bill 115) and impose contracts on all groups in the education sector that did not have collective agreements in place by December 31, 2012.
In Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board this impacts the following employee groups:
- Association of Professional Student Services Personnel (APSSP), Hastings Prince Edward District Chapter;
- Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 1022;
- Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), Hastings-Prince Edward Local;
- Hastings and Prince Edward Occasional Teachers' Local (HAPE-OTL); and
- Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), District 29.
Imposed contracts for groups will be similar to the two-year agreements the government reached with Catholic teachers, French-language teachers, and some associations (Association of Profession Student Services Personnel), and removes the right to take strike action during the period of the agreement which is from September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2014.
Note that support staff in Hastings and Prince Edward represented by CUPE are currently working through a process related to the tentative agreement reached with the government in late December. Provisions from the Putting Students First Act will also impact employees in the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board Administrative Support Group (ASG) and elementary and secondary principals (Ontario Principals' Council) during the two-year period.
We encourage you to contact your school superintendent or Human Resources Support Services if you have questions about labour relations, by calling 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350.
For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, [email protected]
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Posted December 7, 2012-Elementary teachers' strike, labour relations update and bus cancellations
Parent letter about the one-day legal strike by elementary teachers (pdf)
List of elementary bus routes that will not run on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 (pdf)
Notice of a one-day legal strike by elementary teachers
Elementary teachers in Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board will stage a one-day legal strike on Wednesday, December 12, 2012. This is being directed by the provincial Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario and is in response to the provincial government passing Bill 115, the Putting Students First Act.
Due to this legal strike action by the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, Hastings-Prince Edward Local, all elementary schools will be closed to students on Wednesday, December 12, 2012. Parents/guardians should not send their children to school on Wednesday, December 12. Buses that serve only elementary schools will not run that day (refer to the link for cancelled bus routes, above). Even though buses will be running for other schools, children who attend Hastings and Prince Edward elementary schools should not get on the bus. The school day will return to normal on Thursday, December 13, 2012.
The decision to close elementary schools for one-day is authorized under section 19. (2), of the Education Act which states:
"In case of strike by members of a teachers' bargaining unit . . ., the board may close one or more schools if it is of the opinion that,
(a) the safety of pupils may be endangered during the strike . . .;
(c) the strike . . . will substantially interfere with the operation of the school."
Secondary school teachers are not involved in this job action. Secondary schools will remain open and the buses will run, as usual. Secondary school students (Grade 9 to 12) are expected to be at school on Wednesday, December 12, 2012.
Update on sports, teams and clubs at elementary and secondary schools
Provincial teacher unions have instructed elementary and secondary teachers not to participate in voluntary/extra-curricular activities as of Monday, December 10, 2012. This will likely have an impact on all sports, teams, clubs and extra-curricular activities at elementary and secondary schools. Field trips at elementary and secondary schools may be affected, as well.
At this time we have limited information about teacher job action and the duration. Outside the school day staff leadership of extra-curricular activities and events is voluntary. HPEDSB is in a similar position to other public school boards in Ontario where one-day strikes and teacher withdrawal of services are occurring. Please refer to Procedure 230: Out-of-School Learning for further information.
With the exception of the one-day strike by elementary teachers on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, mentioned above, classroom instruction is continuing.
Please be assured that our focus remains on student safety, well-being and achievement. We know this is an uncertain time for students and families.
Please contact your school superintendent if you have questions about how labour relations may be impacting your child's school.
For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, [email protected]
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Posted November 29, 2012-Negotiations continue with all local employee groups connected to Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. These include:
- Association of Professional Student Services Personnel (APSSP), Hastings Prince Edward District Chapter
- Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 1022
- Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), Hastings-Prince Edward Local
- Hastings and Prince Edward Occasional Teachers' Local (HAPE-OTL)
- Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), District 29
On November 28, 2012, the provincial ETFO posted a news release on its website stating it will give parents 72 hours notice of strikes planned for December in school boards by public elementary teachers. Our local ETFO members will be in a legal strike position on Monday, December 10, 2012.
We are monitoring this situation and will do our best to keep parents/guardians informed of any strike action within Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. Student safety is our top priority and we want to assure you that the Board is committed to providing safe, caring and respectful learning environments.
We encourage you to contact your school superintendent if you have questions or concerns about how labour relations may be impacting your child's school, by calling 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350.
For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, [email protected]
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Posted November 12, 2012-We are aware that discussions between the Ministry of Education and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) that were occurring over the weekend did not result in an agreement.
Beginning Monday, November 12, 2012, the local OSSTF for Hastings and Prince Edward is in a legal strike position. We have been informed that OSSTF plans to initiate sanctions that include reductions in some of their duties, including supervision. In response, the Board intends to implement a temporary contingency plan to provide alternate supervision at its secondary schools. This plan will be monitored and evaluated daily by the Board.
Federations and unions representing elementary school teachers and some support staff are not in a legal strike position as of yet. We believe in the collective bargaining process and continue to meet with all our employee groups in the hope of reaching collective agreements.
Student safety is our top priority and we want to assure you that the Board is committed to providing safe, caring and respectful learning environments. Further information will be communicated to parents/guardians and others through school and Board websites, and radio media.
We encourage you to contact the school superintendent if you have questions or concerns about how labour relations may be impacting your child's school.
For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, [email protected]
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Posted October 3, 2012-On September 11, 2012 the Ontario government passed the Putting Students First Act, 2012. As a result of this legislation, some school communities within Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) may experience changes in certain school events.
Our employees remain focused on ensuring student safety, and providing quality instruction and learning experiences for students. Outside the school day staff leadership of extra-curricular activities and events is voluntary. It is our current understanding that in response to the new provincial legislation, some staff may choose not to participate in some of these voluntary activities. Involvement may vary from school to school.
HPEDSB is in a similar position as other school boards across the province. We know this is an uncertain time for students and families. Please be assured that our focus remains on student safety, well-being and achievement. The relationship between the Board and its employee groups continues to be respectful.
We encourage you to contact the school principal if you have questions or concerns about activities at your child's school. school contact information
For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, [email protected]