Collective Bargaining Updates 2022-2023

Collective bargaining is the process to renegotiate the terms and conditions of employment for unionized employees through the renewal of collective agreements. The Board has seven (7) collective agreements with its union partners – CUPE Locals 1571, 2331, 2331-2, OECTA Permanent and Occasional Teachers, and OSSTF. These collective agreements expire August 31, 2022. 

The School Boards’ Collective Bargaining (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/14s05) and Ontario Labour Relations (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/95l01) Acts regulate collective bargaining in the publicly-funded education sector. The collective bargaining framework for the education sector features a two-tier bargaining process, involving both central and local bargaining. School boards are represented in central bargaining by their applicable trustees’ association which partner with the provincial government to conduct negotiations with sector unions on matters of significant monetary and policy issues (e.g. compensation, benefits, paid leaves, etc.). Local negotiations typically involve non-monetary issues or matters that are specific to the school board and its union partner to the collective agreement. 

Central collective bargaining meeting dates for each of the Board’s union partners are as follows: 

• Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) – Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Education Workers (Custodians/Maintenance/Education Assistants/Early Childhood Educators/Library Technicians/School Secretaries, etc.)

o July 18, 2022 

o August 2, 2022 

o August 8/9, 2022 

o August 15/16*, 2022 (*Union filed for conciliation) 

o August 26, 2022 

o September 16, 2022 

o September 20/21, 2022 

o October 6/7, 2022 (*Union requested a No Board Report) 

o October 17/18/19 

CUPE members will be in a legal strike position on November 4, 2022. This could entail labour sanctions including work to rule, rotating strikes, full strikes. As such, the Board is engaged in contingency planning and will provide updates to parents, legal guardians and stakeholders as provincial negotiations continue. 

• Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) – permanent and occasional teachers

o July 21, 2022 

o August 17, 2022 

o August 31, 2022 

o September 1, 2022 

• Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation- Education Workers (OSSTF) – para-professionals

o July 20, 2022 

o August 24, 2022 

o September 27/28, 2022 

o October 14, 20, and 21, 2022

o November 9, 10, and 11, 2022

Meetings for local negotiations between the Board and each union partner will be scheduled. 

The Board will continue to provide general updates to its parents/legal guardians and system stakeholders throughout collective bargaining. As negotiations are a private and confidential process, the Board will not be providing detailed updates.

November 1, 2022

Dear Families of the York Catholic District School Board,

On Sunday, October 30, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSCBU) provided notice of its intent to start legal strike action through a full withdrawal of services as of Friday, November 4, 2022. Yesterday, the provincial government introduced back to work legislation for CUPE members if a strike does occur on November 4 or after. After the government announced this back to work legislation, CUPE publicly stated that their members still plan to withdraw their services on Friday, November 4.

At York Catholic, our CUPE-represented staff include Custodial and Maintenance Staff, Educational Assistants/Interveners, Early Childhood Educators, Library Technicians, School Secretaries, Lunchtime Supervisors, Office Support Workers, Student Support Workers, Specialized Education Workers, Adult English as a Second Language and Extended-Day Language Instructors and some central office staff.

Our CUPE-represented staff are critical and essential to the health, safety and well-being of our students and staff in YCDSB school communities and workplaces. Any job action by CUPE members will significantly impact the operations of our schools and our ability to keep schools safely open.

While this situation remains fluid, we recommend that families start making alternative childcare arrangements. In the event of a full withdrawal of services by CUPE, YCDSB schools will be closed to students on Friday, November 4 and student transportation will not be available. Before and After Care Programs will not operate on Friday. Full-day Child Care Centers will have access to their facilities and can remain open at the discretion of the operator.

The status of our schools will be confirmed and communicated to families by 6 a.m. on Friday morning via SchoolMessenger, the YCDSB website and the YCDSB Twitter account.

The Board of Trustees and the senior leadership team value the democratic right of free collective bargaining and the legal rights enshrined under legislation and pray that the parties return to the table. We understand the challenges faced by our school communities, staff, parents and guardians during the collective bargaining process and thank you for your patience.

Yours in Christ,

Elizabeth Crowe                             Domenic Scuglia
Chair of the Board, YCDSB            Director of Education

November 2, 2022

Dear Families of the York Catholic District School Board,

As we communicated yesterday, bargaining between CUPE and the Government of Ontario is ongoing and we pray that a negotiated settlement can be reached before Friday, November 4. The situation is fluid, but there remains a possibility that there will be a withdrawal of services on Friday and York Catholic schools will need to close to students. We want to provide some information about what will happen if our schools are closed to students on Friday.

We will communicate before 6 a.m. on Friday if our schools are closed via SchoolMessenger (email), the YCDSB Twitter account and the YCDSB website.

If schools are closed, do not bring your child to school. There will not be supervision available for students.

On Thursday, students will be provided with work they can complete independently on Friday. If schools are closed on Friday, teachers will be available to answer students’ questions on a specified virtual platform (i.e. Google Classroom, D2L) from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and also from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

On Friday, teachers will also be planning Virtual Learning Environment lessons for next week, in case they are needed. We will provide more information about what to expect for classes next week as soon as possible.

If schools close to students, all Continuing Education programs will be cancelled on Friday and Saturday, including tutoring.

We know that the collective bargaining process can be challenging and we thank you for your support of the Board and all our staff at this time.

Yours in Christ,

Domenic Scuglia
Director of Education

November 3, 2022

Dear Families of York Catholic District School Board,

The situation with provincial bargaining remains fluid, but we want our families to have enough time to plan for alternative childcare arrangements for tomorrow. For that reason, and for the health, safety and well-being of our students and staff, York Catholic DSB schools will be closed to students on Friday, November 4.

Here is some further information about the planned school closure on Friday:

• Please do not bring your child to school on Friday, November 4. There will not be supervision available for students.
• Students should have been provided with work they can complete independently on Friday.
• From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and also from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. teachers will be available to answer students’ questions on a specified platform (i.e. Google Classroom, D2L, email).
• On Friday, teachers will also be planning Virtual Learning Environment lessons for next week, in case they are needed.
• All continuing education programs will be canceled on Friday and Saturday, including tutoring.

By Sunday afternoon, we will provide more information about what to expect for classes next week. We would encourage families to continue to make alternative childcare arrangements for next week, in case they are needed. We will provide updates via email, the YCDSB website and the YCDSB Twitter account.

We understand that you likely have many questions about this situation and we have published a FAQ from families page on our website.

We know that closing schools to students will be a hardship for many families. We made the decision to close the schools to students because the health, safety and well-being of our students is always our Board’s first priority. We continue to pray for an agreement and a return to the classroom.

Yours in Christ,

Domenic Scuglia
Director of Education

November 4, 2022

Dear Families of York Catholic District School Board,

Thank you for your support and understanding as we respond to the provincial CUPE labour negotiations. The health, safety and well-being of our students and staff will always be our greatest priority.

At this time, it is uncertain how long the labour negotiations between CUPE and the Government of Ontario will continue. As such, we are working on a plan to safely resume providing instruction to our students.

Unless there is an agreement reached between CUPE and the Government of Ontario over the weekend, starting on Monday, November 7, 2022, and for the balance of any further job action by CUPE, York Catholic will move to synchronous virtual learning. You will receive instructions from your child’s school/teacher on how to join your virtual class.

During the pandemic, we learned that virtual learning has different impacts on our students. Know that we are committed to ensuring that all children have access to their classroom instruction.

For that reason, no assessments will be conducted over the next several days for students who are usually in-person learners. Families of students who cannot participate in virtual learning due to not being able to access the necessary technology are asked to reach out to their school for work packages that can be completed asynchronously over the coming days. Schools will coordinate with families that need to borrow a device.

We will continue to provide updates to families via email, the YCDSB website and YCDSB Twitter account.

We understand that the move to virtual learning will be challenging for many families and York Catholic is committed to working with you during this time. Please join us in continuing to pray for a freely negotiated agreement that will allow our students to return to the classroom.

Yours in Christ,

Domenic Scuglia
Director of Education

Dear Families of the York Catholic District School Board,

We hope that you had an excellent weekend and had an opportunity to spend some quality time with your loved ones.

At this time, CUPE and the Government of Ontario do not seem to be close to an agreement that will allow for the return of students into the classroom. In fact, as of Sunday November 6th, the parties to the central bargaining process are making submissions to the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

As such, this is a reminder that York Catholic schools will move to synchronous virtual learning starting tomorrow (Monday, November 7, 2022). Students should have received instructions from their school/teacher on how to join their virtual classroom.

To ensure our students have access to education, our schools are working to provide technology to students who need it. Assessments will not be conducted virtually for the next few days for students who are usually in-person learners. Please reach out to your school if you have any questions or if you need assistance.

Please note that some of the normal operations of our schools may be slower than usual as our CUPE-represented employees will not be available for work due to the provincial job action.

We will continue to provide updates to families via email, the YCDSB website and YCDSB Twitter account.

Please join us in praying that students will be able to return to the classroom soon.

Yours in Christ,

Domenic Scuglia
Director of Education

Dear Families of the York Catholic District School Board,

York Catholic schools will reopen to students for in-person learning tomorrow morning (Tuesday, November 8, 2022). This is possible because of development in the talks between CUPE and the Government of Ontario, which happened this morning. 

Student transportation will be available tomorrow morning for those who qualify. Before and After School programs will resume at the discretion of the operator. 

The past several days have been stressful for many families and we thank you for your patience and understanding.

We are happy to welcome our CUPE-represented employees back into our schools and we will continue to pray for all success and well-being of all our students and our staff. 

Yours in Christ, 

Domenic Scuglia
Director of Education

November 16, 2022

Dear Families of the York Catholic District School Board,

Earlier today CUPE served notice that they could resume their job action as soon as Monday, November 21, 2022.

In the event of a strike, York Catholic DSB will move to synchronous virtual learning on Monday. Schools will maintain their regular daily learning schedules. St. Teresa of Calcutta virtual school will proceed with classes as usual.

If there is a strike, please do not bring your child to school. There will be no supervision available for students.

Schools will send information separately on obtaining technology for families who need it.

Full-day Child Care Centers will have access to their facilities and can remain open at the discretion of the operator. Before and after care programs will be closed in the event of a strike.

Co-curricular activities will be cancelled during a strike.

We know that it is very stressful for families and staff to consider the possibility of not having classroom instruction again. The safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our main priority. We will continue to provide you with updates as we learn more.

We thank you for your ongoing support of the York Catholic DSB and our Education Workers. Please join us in continuing to pray for agreement between CUPE and the Government of Ontario that will keep our students in the classroom.

Yours in Christ,

Domenic Scuglia
Director of Education

Dear Families of the York Catholic District School Board,

We are happy to hear the news this weekend that CUPE and the Government of Ontario have reached a settlement for a new contract.

All our schools will be open and operate as usual on Monday.

We know that the past several days have been stressful for families and our staff.  We thank you very much for your patience and understanding. Please join us in continuing to pray for the success and well-being of our students and staff.

Yours in Christ,

Domenic Scuglia