NOTE: THE CONTENT OF OECTA PROVINCIAL BARGAINING UPDATES IS CONFIDENTIAL TO
MEMBERS. PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION OR POST IT ONLINE.
CUPE Strike Guidance for Members
Education workers from the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU), represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), will implement a full withdrawal of their services on November 4. This means CUPE employees will not be performing any of their duties, and picket lines will likely be set up outside schools.
The presence of CUPE staff in schools varies across and within school boards, and each board will respond differently. However, many teachers will be affected by the strike. Below is guidance for OECTA members about how to support your colleagues, maintain your professional obligations, and ensure health and safety in your school.
Questions about specific situations should be directed to your local OECTA unit.
Note that where you are advised to request or provide information in writing, this can include email.
Your Association will continue to provide you with timely information as it becomes available.
CUPE Work
No OECTA member is to perform any duties previously performed by, or assigned to, a CUPE
employee. If directed by school/board administration to do so, request that direction in writing, comply with the
directive, and advise your local OECTA unit as soon as possible.
No OECTA member is to direct, ask, or request that a student perform any duties previously performed by,
or assigned to, a CUPE employee. However, if a school/board administrator directs a student to perform
such tasks, do not interfere. Advise your local OECTA unit, who will then inform CUPE.
No OECTA member is to arrange for volunteers to perform any duties previously performed by, or assigned
to, a CUPE employee.
If an OECTA member undertakes any CUPE duties (i.e., buzzing in students or emptying garbage cans),
even if on their own time, OECTA will not represent that member if any issues arise as a result of them
undertaking those duties.
Picket Lines
OECTA members are not in a legal strike position and cannot refuse to cross CUPE picket lines. You are
expected to report to work and perform your usual duties. Failure to do so could result in discipline
NOTE: THE CONTENT OF OECTA PROVINCIAL BARGAINING UPDATES IS CONFIDENTIAL TO
MEMBERS. PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION OR POST IT ONLINE.
from the employer and/or the Ontario College of Teachers.
You should support your colleagues and respect picket line protocols.
- Plan extra time to arrive at work, as you will likely be delayed entering school property or the school
building. - Wait for the picket line to allow you to cross. Typically, delays last between five and 15 minutes.
- Do not engage in debate with picketers.
- You are encouraged to demonstrate support, for example by providing snacks.
- You may participate in the pickets if invited, but only on your own time (i.e., in the morning prior to the
15 minutes before the start of school, after school, or at lunchtime, but not during assigned duties or
preparatory and planning time). - If there are any health and safety concerns regarding picket lines, contact your principal and your
OECTA representative on the joint health and safety committee or your local unit president.
Closed Schools/Online Learning
Your school board should communicate with you about whether they will be closing schools as a result of
CUPE’s labour action, and if you are expected to report for work. If you are expected to report to your
school/work site and do not, you will forgo pay for that day and may be subject to discipline.
The Association is deeply concerned by reports that school boards are developing plans to shift to online
learning as a result of CUPE’s labour action. As always, the Association is dedicated to supporting and
defending your rights as Catholic teachers, and is working closely with legal representation, as well as local
OECTA units, to determine whether such plans constitute a violation of the collective agreement.
Please be advised that if your school board announces that they will be shifting to online learning, that you
will be expected to follow this direction, and may be required to report for work in-person at your
school/work site. If you are expected to report in-person to your school/work site and do not, you may
forgo pay for that day and may be subject to discipline. Furthermore, your employer is expected to provide
you with all the tools you need to perform your job online. If you are unable to perform your duties in these
circumstances, notify your administrator and follow-up in writing for your own records.
Health and Safety
The absence of custodial, maintenance, clerical, or other staff might result in situations that are unsafe for
work. There is a process for an individual worker to initiate a work refusal under the Occupational Health and
Safety Act. Information on how to initiate this process can be found in the Health and Safety section of the
Members’ Area at catholicteachers.ca.
Full-day Kindergarten (FDK)
In situations where early childhood educators (ECEs) are organized by CUPE, and a striking ECE is not
replaced and you are left alone with students, for all or part of the day, you should inform school
administration, in writing, that in your professional opinion the classroom is no longer safe for the students
due to a lack of appropriate supervision levels. This communication should be copied to your local OECTA
unit. You should also advise school administration, in writing, that you cannot deliver the appropriate FDK
curriculum in the absence of the ECE. This communication should be copied to your local OECTA unit.
If you feel your health and safety are at risk, please refer to the Health and Safety section of the Members’
Area at catholicteachers.ca, for information about how to initiate a work refusal under the Occupational
Health and Safety Act.
Educational Assistants
Many educational assistants (EAs) are organized by CUPE. If you come in contact with a student who
typically has EA support, and you now feel unsafe due to the absence of the EA, you should initiate a work
refusal under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Information about how to initiate a work refusal is
available in the Health and Safety section of the Members’ Area at catholicteachers.ca.
If you are normally supported in the classroom by an EA who is assigned to help one or more identified
children, for part or all of the day, you should keep track of all instances for which you do not receive
support. Local OECTA units will advise school boards that at the conclusion of the CUPE job action,
grievances will be filed in response to the increased workload faced by teachers as a result of this lack of
support.