FAQs from Families about Possible Job Action

Will there be communications to parents regarding the CUPE job action?

Yes, via the Communications and HR Departments. Collective bargaining updates can also be found on the Board’s website front page.

I assume central communications to parents/guardians will come from the Board. Please address if schools need to send out supplementary communication.

Yes. Central communications will flow from the CEC to principals, vice principals, managers, and parents/legal guardians.

How will this affect my child’s learning?

If a job action occurs, all York Catholic in-person students will move to asynchronous remote learning on Friday, November 4. We will do this because operating in-person learning without CUPE represented staff is unsafe. We will do our best to provide continuity of learning for all our students should there be labour disruptions.

Why are schools closed to in-person learning if the teachers are not engaged in job action?

It would be unsafe. Our CUPE represented staff includes custodial and maintenance staff, Adult and International Language Instructors, Educational Assistants/ Intervenors, Early Childhood Educators, Library Technicians, School Secretaries, Central Office staff, etc. These CUPE represented staff duties include but are not limited to: monitoring the front door entrance, responding to parent calls, processing attendance, supporting and maintaining our technology, and assisting with the safe arrival of students, supporting students that have special medical, toileting and/or behavioural needs, supervising students, and cleaning our schools. Your children’s safety is our highest priority. Without their presence, we would not be able to ensure student safety.

What if I can’t support my child with remote learning during job action?

In the short term, if your child cannot participate in remote learning, we understand, and please know that no student will be academically disadvantaged.

Parents/guardians may also choose to have their child join for part of the remote learning but not be online for the entire day. If job action is prolonged, the Board will provide further updates.

Can parents continue to volunteer in schools during job action?

Schools will be closed for November 4th in the event of a job action.

Why are students still in classrooms in other school boards?

Other school boards may not have CUPE Units which represent employees so the CUPE strike does not impact them. Our contingency planning is based on the fact that CUPE represents the majority of our education workers staff.  

Updates

We will continue sharing collective bargaining updates with parents via email, the Board’s Twitter account and the Board’s website. Thank you for your understanding and patience. We know this is a stressful time for our staff and families in our school community.

We thank the Ottawa Catholic School Board for sharing this resource with us.