Editor,
Commenting on the Ford government’s plan to return students to school this fall, Grey Bruce Labour Council President, Kevin Smith states that the plan jeopardizes the safety of students, educators and all Ontarians by severely underfunding a safe return. Smith points out that all four of the major education unions in Ontario, which represent the province’s elementary and secondary teachers and education workers, are condemning the Ontario government’s plan.
The Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) represent 200,000 teachers and education workers who are expected to return to school under the government’s plan.
Far short of the $3 billion that has been estimated for a safe and healthy return to school, Labour Council VP for Bruce, Dave Trumble said that “much more is required in way of funds for enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of schools, additional custodial staff, masks and personal protective equipment, health and safety training for staff and additional educators.”
Labour Council VP for Grey, Chris Stephen, said “it is likely that not only has the return been needlessly set up to fail, but we have put tremendous pressure on educators to be the last line of defence for themselves and students. So often this last line of defence requires workers, in this case our educators, to refuse unsafe work. Existing for forty plus years, exercising such rights still causes significant stress, but remains a life saver."
Our educators and support staff, known for their solidarity in good and bad times, will do what is necessary. In words that are more meaningful today than ever, "an injury to one is an injury to all." The Labour Council knows in what could be a crisis in the making, the members of our education unions will do what is necessary to protect students, the community and themselves.
“While the announcement of new funding is welcome, it’s quite clear that the Ford government isn’t willing to pay the full cost of ensuring the safety of students and educators in September,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond. “The Premier promised Ontarians that he ‘will spare no expense’ to keep people safe, yet he and Education Minister Stephen Lecce are betraying that promise to students, educators, parents and communities with this ill-prepared plan.”
“Educators want to be back with their students, but want to do so safely,” said OECTA President Liz Stuart. “The Ford model does not provide for the safe physical distancing that is expected in the rest of the province, and that health experts around the world have recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It also does not provide the necessary additional resources to support distance learning for those families who elect to keep their children home, or to support students in schools who have unique learning needs. Ontario’s recovery depends on a safe return to school, and this plan does not provide it.”
“This plan is an insult to every student, every parent and every educator in the province of Ontario,” said OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof. “The Ford government has had four months to come up with a serious strategy – four months to consult, to plan, and to allocate appropriate resources to ensure a safe return to school in September. It’s clear from [the July 30th] announcement that they have squandered that time."
