GENERAL
What does ETFO’s Phase 6 Strike Protocol look like?
ETFO’s Phase 6 Strike Protocol begins on Wednesday, February 26. During the next two weeks, ETFO members will remain in schools working with their students. They will also be building on the overwhelming support they received on picket lines from parents, businesses and community partners.
Why has ETFO implemented the Phase 6 Strike Protocol?
This will be the Ford government’s opportunity to get back to the Teacher/Occasional Teacher and Education Worker Central Tables and reach agreements with ETFO by Friday, March 6, 2020 that support students, and are fair to teachers and educators.
What if no agreements are reached by Friday, March 6, 2020?
If agreements are not reached by March 6, ETFO will begin its Phase 7 Strike Protocol on Monday, March 9, 2020.
Am I still able to have coordinators, instructional leaders, system leaders, early years program facilitators, etc., visit my classroom during the Phase 6 Strike Protocol?
Yes, members may continue to work with the above referenced positions individually or with their grade team.
How does the Phase 6 Strike Protocol affect transition meetings (e.g., grade 6 to 7 transition, grade 8 to 9 transition, etc.)?
As of Wednesday, February 26, members should not complete transition forms. In addition, all transition meetings (with the exception of special education transition meetings) are struck work.
I work in a care and treatment facility. Do I participate in the Phase 6 Strike Protocol?
ETFO’s Phase 6 Strike Protocol applies to all ETFO members, except those who work in the following care and treatment facilities:
- Bloorview, Campbell Children’s School, John McGivney Children’s Centre, KidsAbility, Niagara Children’s Centre and Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre.
Members working in the above-named care and treatment facilities will receive information on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, about their participation in ETFO’s Phase 6 Work-to-Rule Strike Protocol.
I am a coordinator/instructional leader/etc. Do I participate in the Phase 6 Strike Protocol?
Yes. Advice has been developed regarding ETFO’s Phase 6 Strike Protocol and the role of coordinators and instructional leaders. That advice will be communicated prior to Wednesday, February 26.
Will more Phase 6 Strike Protocol FAQs become available? Where can I find them?
Additional FAQs may be posted on the ETFO Collective Bargaining Website at etfocb.ca/phase-6-faqs/. Members will be advised when FAQ updates have been posted.
What do I do if I have a question and it’s not covered in Central Bargaining Bulletin #19 or on ETFO’s Collective Bargaining website?
ETFO has set up a system to ensure you receive an answer to your question as quickly and as efficiently as possible. The system is as follows:
- If you are a teacher member who has a question about the Phase 6 Strike Protocol (or any other WTR question), ask your steward;
- If you are an occasional teacher (OT), DECE, ESP, PSP or education worker member who has a question about the Phase 6 Strike Protocol/WTR, call your ETFO local office;
- If you are a steward who has a question about the Phase 6 Strike Protocol/WTR, or are unsure about how to answer a colleague’s question, contact your ETFO local office.
TEACHER/EDUCATOR ABSENCES – COVERAGE AND SUPERVISION
What should I say if my principal attempts to add additional students to my class, or attempts to reassign me during my preparation/planning time to cover for an absent colleague?
Remind your principal that under ETFO’s Phase 6 Strike Protocol, coverage for absent ETFO members is struck work as of Wednesday, February 26, 2020.
I advised the principal about ETFO’s Phase 6 Strike Protocol around coverage for absences. The principal then directed me to take additional students (or cover a classroom during my preparation/planning time). What do I do?
- Ask your principal to provide the direction in writing.
- Remind the principal that you have a legal right to participate in strike action, and the principal’s direction may be interfering with that right. Advise the principal you are complying with the direction under protest.
- If you are a member in a permanent position, ask your steward to contact the ETFO local office as soon as possible and explain the situation. If you are a member in an occasional position, contact your local office as soon as possible and explain the situation.
Interfering with a member’s right to participate in strike action is a very serious matter that could result in a complaint being made by ETFO to the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Your local will advise appropriate staff at ETFO’s provincial office about the incident, and provincial staff will explore the options that need to be pursued to resolve the issue.
I am an occasional member and I want to make sure I follow ETFO’s Phase 6 Strike Protocol. If I am called to a specific assignment (e.g., Grade 7/8), but when I arrive at school the principal attempts to place me in another assignment, what do I do?
- Ask your principal to provide the direction in writing.
- Remind the principal that you have a legal right to participate in strike action, and the principal’s direction may be interfering with that right. Advise the principal you are complying with the direction under protest.
- Contact your local office as soon as possible and explain the situation. Your local will follow up with appropriate staff members at ETFO’s provincial office, who will explore the options that need to be pursued to resolve the matter.
Interfering with a member’s right to participate in strike action is a very serious matter that could result in a complaint being made by ETFO to the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Your local will advise appropriate staff at ETFO’s provincial office about the incident, and provincial staff will explore the options that need to be pursued to resolve the issue.
Should I hold off on scheduling medical appointments, etc., while the Phase 6 Strike Protocol is in place?
If you need to schedule a medical appointment, you should do so. Remember to follow the terms of your collective agreement, as well as board policy, around leaves when you schedule appointments.
What if my school board decides to cancel my previously approved leave due to coverage issues. What do I do?
Contact your ETFO local office as soon as possible.
What if my school board decides to call someone who is not on the occasional teacher list to provide coverage for an absent teacher. What do I do?
The Education Act allows school boards to hire unqualified supplies provided the board has first exhausted all options on the occasional teacher roster. If you believe an unqualified supply has been called when occasional teachers were available to provide coverage for an absence, please contact your local ETFO office as soon as possible as the situation may warrant filing a grievance.
I am a DECE member assigned to supervise a specific group of students in a separate area of the school yard. Due to an absence, the principal has asked me to supervise additional students in my area. What do I do?
The principal should not add other students to the group/area that you normally supervise as this may violate ETFO’s Phase 6 Strike Protocol. You should:
- Ask your principal to provide the direction in writing.
- Remind the principal that you have a legal right to participate in strike action, and the principal’s direction may be interfering with that right. Advise the principal you are complying with the direction under protest.
- Contact your local office as soon as possible and explain the situation.
Interfering with a member’s right to participate in strike action is a very serious matter that could result in a complaint being made by ETFO to the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Your local will advise appropriate staff at ETFO’s provincial office about the incident, and provincial staff will explore the options that need to be pursued to resolve the issue.
What if a snow day is declared by my school board and I can’t get to my school or the buses are cancelled? What do I do?
Members should follow their school board’s normal procedures, including around combining classes, when inclement weather/snow days occur.
OUT OF POCKET PURCHASES
What types of purchases are considered struck work?
As of Wednesday, February 26, ETFO members will not spend personal funds to purchase instructional materials or resources for students, the classroom, the school or the school board. This includes: books, paper, bulletin board materials, posters, technology, art supplies, writing implements, office/cleaning supplies, furniture, etc.
Can I use items and supplies I purchased out-of-pocket prior to Wednesday, February 26?
Yes.
Is purchasing professional/curriculum resources that assist me with my instruction/work considered struck work under the Phase 6 Strike Protocol? What about personal care items like facial tissues?
Members may continue to purchase professional resources for their personal use with their own funds (e.g., a book on new literacy strategies, a unit plan, etc.). Members may continue to purchase personal care items with their own funds (Kleenex, etc.).
Can I continue to pay out-of-pocket for food, clothing, etc., for my students during the Phase 6 Strike Protocol?
Yes, you should continue. There are children who come to school hungry. Many of our members provide them with breakfast, lunch and snacks. Depending on circumstances in the community, our members may also be paying for hats, coats, gloves and other types of clothing for students. ETFO’s strike action does not restrict our members in any way from providing these necessities to their students.
DATA RELATED TO ASSESSMENTS
Is updating IEPs struck work under ETFO’s Phase 6 Strike Protocol?
During the Phase 6 Strike Protocol, members will continue to update IEPs and the IEP Engine. Members will not print or distribute IEPs. Members will not update anything related to EQAO in the IEP or enter report card grades.
Strike days do not count as working days for the creation of new IEPs.
I am a Reading Recovery Teacher. Does the Phase 6 Strike Protocol affect my role?
Reading Recovery Teachers may continue to plan, teach and assess during Reading Recovery lessons. They may continue to gather and document daily assessment data needed for ongoing instruction. When data is being collected for the purpose of selection and completion of students in the program, it can be submitted in hard copy format only to the Teacher Leader, if required. Reading Recovery Teachers may discuss the results in person with a visiting Reading Recovery Leader during Reading Recovery instructional time.
Reading Recovery Teachers may NOT submit the data using board systems or platforms.
I am an education worker and I administer various assessments on a daily basis as part of my role. How does the Phase 6 Strike Protocol affect my role?
Education workers would continue to administer various assessments to support students with their learning needs. They would use the data to make recommendations and develop action plans to support student learning.
During the Phase 6 Strike Protocol, education workers will not upload data from assessments into any board system or platform. Education workers would hand in a hard copy of the data, if requested.
OUTREACH/ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES
What other types of outreach/advocacy activities can I do during the Phase 6 Strike Protocol?
Members could:
- conduct an information picket or leafleting session outside their school/worksite. Check the “Get Tools and Resources” section on ETFO’s Building Better Schools website – ca – for flyers and fact sheets;
- arrange/participate in an information picket at the nearest Progressive Conservative MPP’s office;
- speak to a parent or community group about issues in education and ETFO’s bargaining priorities for the 2019 round of central bargaining;
- book a table at a local community event to display ETFO materials on key issues in education and the 2019 round of central bargaining;
- attend a meeting of school board trustees; and
- start a petition in support of key issues in education and the 2019 round of central bargaining;
I prefer to send my own letter to my MPP/the Minister of Education/Trustees rather than use a template. Is that OK?
Yes. It is important to be civil and use professional language in your written communications.
Can I write a letter to my local newspaper?
Yes. It should be kept in mind that your published correspondence reflects on your colleagues and should, therefore, always carry a professional tone.
ETFO SOLIDARITY SIGNATURE
When can I start using the ETFO Solidarity Signature? Where do I find it?
The
ETFO Solidarity Signature can be used as of Wednesday, February 26, 2020. It will be posted on ETFO’s Collective Bargaining website at
etfocb.ca/phase-6-resources/ on February 26.
Can I include the ETFO Solidarity Signature as part of my personal email signature, as well as my school board email signature?
Yes.
Can other non-ETFO staff members include the ETFO Solidarity Signature as part of their school board email signature?
Non-ETFO staff members should contact their union representatives before including the ETFO Solidarity Signature as part of their school board email signature.
A parent in my classroom wants to include the ETFO Solidarity Signature as part of her personal email signature. Is that OK?
Provided the parent is not also an employee of the school board, it is up to the parent whether to include the ETFO Solidarity Signature as part of her personal email signature.
My principal has told me I cannot include the ETFO Solidarity Signature as part of my board email signature. What do I do?
- Ask your principal to provide the direction in writing;
- Remind the principal that you have a legal right to participate in strike action, and the principal’s direction may be interfering with that right. Advise the principal that you are complying with the direction under protest;
- If you are an ETFO member in a permanent position, ask your steward to contact the ETFO local office as soon as possible and explain the situation. If you are an ETFO member in an occasional position, contact your local office as soon as possible and explain the situation.
Interfering with a member’s right to participate in strike action is a very serious issue that could result in a complaint being made by ETFO to the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Your local will advise appropriate staff at ETFO’s provincial office about the incident, and provincial staff will explore the options that need to be pursued to resolve the matter.
