Limestone taking low key approach to labour unrest

Nov 15, 2012

All questions to local high schools about the impact of labour actions that were taken this week by members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers (OSSTF) Federation are being referred to the Limestone District School Board (LDSB).

I had a chance to speak to communications officer Karen Smith and Andre Labrie, superintendent of Human Resources, both with the LDSB, on Monday November 12.

They talked about the sanctions that the OSSTF had begun implementing on that date. The sanctions have resulted in the withdrawal of administrative services by OSSTF members. Staff are not attending any after-school staff meetings nor any board-established meetings during school hours, and have withdrawn from certain specifically assigned supervisions such as those that involve covering for an absent colleague. School staff, however, will continue to teach, mark work, report and evaluate students in the class.

Ms. Smith said that because the actions taken so far by members of the OSSTF are administrative in nature, the students have not been negatively affected.

“The fact that teachers are not withdrawing instructional time, nor in most cases extra curriculars, shows that the union is focusing on things that will not adversely affect student learning or safety. We are reassured that the unions are making their decisions with student safety and learning in mind. It is one of our objectives at this time to continue to meet and negotiate with the unions and to come to a collective agreement as soon as possible.”

Andre Labrie added that things appeared to be proceeding in a positive light, with talks continuing. He highlighted the fact that the dispute in reality is between members of the OSSTF and the provincial government, not the school board and added, “The particular issue that the unions are unhappy with is at the government level which makes it a bit difficult to predict what the outcome will be, and this is what makes it hard for us since we are obligated to follow the law that was laid out in Bill 115.”

The stance taken by the Limestone Board differs from the one taken by a major board to the east of Limestone’s territory.

The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) covers Lanark, Leeds and a Thousand Islands and communities south of Ottawa all the way to the Quebec border. The UCDSB Board of Trustees have given administrative staff leave to lock out teachers and close schools if they become concerned with the safety of students.

Greg Pietersma, chairman of the Upper Canada District School Board, told the Globe and Mail that the situation remains tenuous.

“For the next few days we should be able to keep the schools open. We’ll be reviewing it on a day by day basis,” he said.

Parents, guardians students and families in Frontenac and Lennox and Addingston can find more information about the status of the ongoing talks by visiting the LDSB website at www.limestone.on.ca and clicking on the labour update button.