Many teachers suspended indefinitely without pay
‘Heavy-handed’ approach panned as support staff strike enters Week 2
The association representing Catholic teachers in Ontario says at least 11 teachers from St. Thomas of Villanova High School have been suspended indefinitely without pay for “insubordination.”
Brian Hogan, president of the local chapter of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, confirmed that “about a dozen” teachers were handed suspension notices while they were waiting in line to enter school property.
“People are shell-shocked,” he said. “It’s heavy-handed. It’s unfortunate that just days into the labour dispute, which is not with us, management wants to jackhammer us.”
According to Hogan, the letters stated that teachers are being suspended for “insubordination” and “failing to follow directives.”
Striking support staff members have been picketing outside the entrance to some Catholic schools in the area and slowing cars as they try to enter school property. More than 1,000 students also took to the streets, waving banners and signs calling for the union and board to resume contract negotiations.
Hogan said teachers who were trapped in long lineups were asked by school board representatives to move to another queue, but were unable to because busy traffic caused “safety concerns.”
The union representative said any “unlucky” teacher who didn’t move fast enough was given a suspension letter.
“From our perspective, these are unwarranted suspensions,” he said. “The teachers were following all labour laws, the Education Act and they were following police advice.”
Stephen Fields, communications co-ordinator for the board, declined to comment on the suspensions and said the WECDSB doesn’t publicly discuss personnel matters.
As the strike enters its second week, both sides seem to be settling in for what appears to be a long work stoppage.
Delays caused by pickets have also led the board to make changes to class schedules this week.
“We’ve come up with an alternative timetable arrangement so that students don’t miss the same period every morning,” said Fields.
“We flipped the schedules at six schools that were experiencing longer than usual delays. They may have fourth period in the morning rather than first period.”
The schools using the alternative scheduling format are St. Anne, St. Joseph, Villanova, Brennan, Cardinal Carter and Holy Names.
Fields said it has been left to each school’s principal to determine how often the schedule is rotated. He said the changes would likely be every couple of days rather than weekly.
Fields added he’s hopeful teachers will get across picket lines a little more quickly this week.
“The union (Unifor Local 2458) informed us over the weekend they’ll let five cars through every 10 minutes,” Fields said. “We’re hoping that helps.
“We’re also reminding teachers the Education Act requires them to be in their classrooms, not outside their school, 15 minutes before school starts.”
Local 2458 president Bruce Dickie said nothing has changed from the union’s standpoint.
“(There’s) been no change in strategy,” Dickie wrote in a message.
“We are exercising our legal right to picket and exchange information.”
Fields said the board’s legal counsel talked with the provincial mediator handling the case over the weekend.
However, no new talks have yet been scheduled.
“There hasn’t been enough movement yet to call the sides back to the table,” Fields said.