. They consider individual labour action one of the last options they have to advocate for stronger safety standards in schools – but remain worried that student safety issues are falling through the cracks.People have a right to refuse work they believe is unsafe under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. Once reported, the Ministry of Labour dispatches an inspector to look into whether a hazard exists and, if so, what can be done to correct it.
Fraser-Hamilton said the issue of ventilation is still being looked into and she’s not ruling out another work refusal depending on what is discovered. In the meantime, she said she’s frustrated that concerns over student masking don’t fall under the ministry’s purview. A spokeswoman for the ministry did not speak to specific cases, such as Fraser-Hamilton’s, but said one closed investigation was resolved internally and another four were found not to meet the criteria of a work refusal or unlikely to endanger the worker.
Between Jan. 2020 and Dec. 2021, the ministry said there were 53 virus-related work refusals in Ontario schools.But Ryan Harper, president of the Peel bargaining unit for the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, said members anecdotally appear more willing to take that action at this point in the pandemic.
The government ordered a two-week period of remote learning this month, citing the likelihood of virus-related staff shortages from the fast-spreading Omicron variant. Classes resumed in-person this week but the province has stopped reporting information on virus cases in schools and PCR tests aren’t available to most students and staff due to a restricted provincial testing policy.
Like Fraser-Hamilton, Pareja said she was discouraged that her concerns about student mask quality didn’t appear to fall under the inspectors’ scope. She has since returned to work while an investigation into school’s ventilation system continues, an agreement she said was reached because the portable she teaches in has a HEPA filter installed.
Who cares?
MSM caused this with their over the top scare porn.
It is way past time that the union earned its dues. Where is the union during all of this?
There is alot of responsible teachers. And just as many supply teachers waiting for the chance at full time . Lets start weeding out the bad ones.
That’s great news. Just replace them with teachers willing to work
All the wacko comments lol… have no idea about health and safety… look it up under the occupational health and safety act…
Bye Bye Karen....
Shocking! A teacher not wanting to work
I think this is perfectly fine. We all have, and should have, the right to refuse unsafe work. She followed the process, her environment was found to be safe, all good.
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