Labour Update - November 19, 2019

Limestone Learning Foundation
Labour Update - November 19, 2019
Posted on 11/19/2019
Image of Labour Update graphicThe Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation (OSSTF) announced that its members have voted in favour of strike action. In Limestone, OSSTF represents over 700 education workers including secondary school teachers, occasional teachers, professional student services personnel, and community education instructors.

Negotiations between the union, government and school board associations continue this week. The union says it has not elected to take any job action at this time and will clarify next steps toward the end of this week. Should OSSTF elect to engage in job action they will provide five days notice. 

The union representing elementary teachers, (Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario-ETFO), has indicated job action will proceed with a partial withdrawal of services effective Tuesday, November 26, should an agreement not be reached between the parties.

This means elementary teachers across the province, including here in Limestone, will be withdrawing administrative duties such as not attending professional learning sessions, not participating in school improvement planning, or in Board activities outside of the instructional day. 

It is important for families to know that there will be no impact on student learning, delivery of the curriculum, student progress reports, or extracurricular activities offered at LDSB schools during this phase of the work-to-rule campaign. Schools will remain open, and classes will continue as scheduled. 

Please be assured that our focus remains on student achievement and well-being and therefore we will work together with all our employees to ensure that learning and safety are not compromised.

The LDSB remains hopeful that agreements with OSSTF and ETFO can be reached before any job action comes into effect.

Meanwhile, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) recently ratified a tentative central agreement. In Limestone, this include custodians, maintenance staff, office administrators, clerical staff, early childhood educators, educational assistants, communicative disorders assistants, and information technology technicians.

For more information, please contact:
Jane Douglas, Communications officer
Communications Officer
613-544-6925 x 311 | 613-328-0916 mobile
Karen Smith, Communications Officer
613-544-6925 x 314 | 613-328-0947 mobile

The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.