Labour Update
Labour Update
April 29, 2016
News Release: Rainbow Board and Educational Assistants reach tentative agreement
Rainbow District School Board and the union representing Educational Assistants in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island have reached a tentative agreement at the local level.
Educational Assistants are represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 614.
Educational Assistants support students with special needs in Rainbow Schools.
The new deal, once ratified, will be in effect from September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2017, aligning with the provincial settlements at the central bargaining table.
“Our Educational Assistants play a valued role in the delivery of special education programs in Rainbow Schools,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “We commend the bargaining teams from the Board and the Union for working together to achieve this tentative agreement.”
OSSTF Educational Support Staff and Professional Services Staff Labour Update
March 9, 2015
News Release: Rainbow Board and Student Services / Support Staff reach tentative agreements
Rainbow District School Board and the Federation representing Professional Student Services Personnel and the Educational Support Staff Unit in Sudbury, Espanola, Manitoulin Island and Shining Tree have reached tentative agreements at the local level.
Both employee groups are represented by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) District 3.
Professional Student Services Personnel includes psychometrists, psychologists, speech and language pathologists, social workers, aboriginal support workers and attendance counsellors. The Educational Support Staff Unit includes secretarial, clerical and library staff as well as information services personnel.
The new deals, if ratified, will be in effect from September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2017, aligning with the provincial settlements at the central bargaining table.
“We commend the bargaining teams from the Board and the Federation for working together to achieve these tentative agreements,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “Our student services personnel and support staff are an integral part of the team of caring adults who nurture student success in Rainbow Schools.”
October 5, 2015
An Important Message For Parents/Guardians:
OSSTF Educational Support / Professional Services Staff Legal Job Action
With Respect To Provincial Bargaining
CUPE Custodial and Maintenance Labour Update
October 1, 2015
An Important Message For Parents/Guardians And Community Members:
Cupe Legal Job Action With Respect To Provincial Bargaining
Secondary Teachers Labour Update
October 17, 2015
News Release: RDSB/OSSTF District 3 Occasional Teachers Reach Agreement to Implement the Award of Arbitration Panel
Rainbow District School Board and OSSTF District 3, representing secondary occasional teachers, worked together over two weekends in September and October with the assistance of mediation and have agreed to implement the award of the arbitration panel with respect to the occasional secondary teachers’ bargaining unit.
All of the local bargaining issues for the occasional secondary teachers’ bargaining unit have now been resolved.
“This is good news for our students, parents/guardians and staff,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “This local decision, along with the settlement at the central table, completes contract negotiations with both of our secondary teacher bargaining units.”
September 7, 2015
News Release: RDSB/OSSTF District 3 reach agreement to implement award of arbitration panel
Rainbow District School Board and OSSTF District 3, representing secondary teachers, worked together over the Labour Day weekend with the assistance of mediation and have agreed to implement the award of the arbitration panel with respect to the permanent secondary teachers’ bargaining unit.
The arbitration panel, created as a result of the Protecting the School Year Act (Bill 103), issued a unanimous decision. The award replaces a negotiated settlement and does not require ratification by either party.
The award resolves all of the local bargaining issues for the permanent secondary teachers’ bargaining unit. Mediation will commence in late September with OSSTF for the secondary occasional teachers’ bargaining unit.
“This local decision, along with the tentative settlement at the central table, will bring renewed peace and stability in our secondary schools. This is good news for our students, parents/guardians and staff,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “We are very encouraged by the spirit of collaboration and co-operation by both parties in this mediation process.”
August 20, 2015
On August 20, 2015, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), the Ontario government and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) reached a tentative agreement. The tentative deal must be ratified by the parties. Terms of the tentative agreement have not yet been made public. Additional information will be shared here as it becomes available.
June 5, 2015
To view Bill 103, visit ontla.on.ca
June 1, 2015
Important Notice For Families:
Revised School Year Calendar For Rainbow E-learning Secondary Students
May 29, 2015
Important Notice for Grade 7 And 8 Students at Chelmsford Valley District Composite School:
Return To CVDCS as of Monday, June 1, 2015
Important Notice for Grade 7 And 8 Students at Lively District Secondary School:
Return to LDSS as of Monday, June 1, 2015
May 28, 2015
The Province of Ontario passes Bill 103 – Protecting the School Year Act, 2015 – an act to resolve labour disputes between the Durham District School Board, Rainbow District School Board and Peel District School Board and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. To view Bill 103, click here.
For reference, click here to access the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014.
News Release: Revised school year calendar in effect for Rainbow secondary students
A revised school year calendar is now in effect for Rainbow District School Board’s secondary schools which re-opened to students and staff on May 27, 2015.
All students are required to return to class in order to obtain their credits and graduate.
Learning will be prioritized and maximized to enable students to complete the school year within the remaining number of school days.
There will be no extension to the school day or the school year.
While students will continue to be evaluated on their achievement of overall curriculum expectations, there will be no formal exams.
Dates previously set aside for exams will become instructional days.
The Professional Activity Day scheduled for Friday, June 12, 2015 will be an instructional day for secondary students.
Transportation will be provided to secondary students on Friday, June 12, 2015.
The Grade 9 EQAO mathematics assessment has been cancelled.
The last day of school for secondary students will be Thursday, June 25, 2015.
Important Notice for Families: Revised School Year Calendar for Secondary Students
May 26, 2015
The Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) has declared the OSSTF strikes in the Rainbow, Durham and Peel district school boards illegal.
Rainbow secondary schools will re-open on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Transportation will also resume immediately for Rainbow secondary school students in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin.
News Release: Strikes illegal – Rainbow secondary schools re-open Wednesday, May 27th
OLRB declares OSSTF strikes illegal Rainbow secondary schools re-open on Wednesday, May 27, 2015
The Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) has declared the OSSTF strikes in the Rainbow, Durham and Peel district school boards illegal.
Rainbow secondary schools will re-open on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Transportation will also resume immediately for Rainbow secondary school students in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin.
Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar applauded the OLRB ruling.
According to Chair Dewar, the decision to file an application to the OLRB was not taken lightly.
“We maintained, from the outset, that our students and their families were caught in a dispute between OSSTF and the Province.”
She added: “We are pleased with the OLRB ruling. The ruling will help to define what is central and what is local in this complex bargaining process.”
Chair Dewar thanked the OLRB for hearing the application and rendering a decision.
“We appreciate their consideration of our request. The lengthy deliberations and outcome certainly validate our concerns.”
“This decision of the OLRB provides the opportunity for our students to return to school tomorrow,” she said.
“We look forward to welcoming our students and teachers back to class.”
May 25, 2015
The Minister of Education has announced that the government will be tabling back-to-work legislation to end the secondary school teachers’ strike and get students back to school.
This process will take a few days and secondary schools remain closed until further notice.
We will inform students and families as soon as we have more information.
We are working with the Ministry of Education to determine what the remainder of the school year will look like, including final marks, missed work and exams.
We will continue to support students and families to ensure a smooth transition.
May 12, 2015
News Release: Board filing application with Ontario Labour Relations Board to end strike
Rainbow District School Board is asking the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) to declare the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) – District 3 strike “unlawful”.
The Board is joining its counterparts in Durham and Peel in filing a joint application to the OLRB on Tuesday, May 12, 2015. OSSTF – District 3, which represents English public secondary teachers and secondary occasional teachers in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin, has been on strike since Monday, April 27, 2015.
The collective bargaining framework for the education sector, set out in the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014, features a two-tier bargaining process with a central table and local tables. In accordance with the legislation, local strikes must be about local issues.
“We have maintained from the outset that our students and their families are caught in a dispute that is really between OSSTF and the Province,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “Rainbow District School Board was targeted for strike action by the provincial OSSTF long before local negotiations had even started.”
Rainbow District School Board has posted a “Clarification of statements about strike action” on its website in order to provide factual information about negotiations at the local level. To access this information, view document below.
“One of the misconceptions is that the Board is attempting to increase class sizes, limit prep time and freeze salaries and benefits at the local table,” said Chair Dewar. “Those issues are not part of the local negotiation process. They are central issues. We have absolutely no influence over central items at our local table.”
Chair Dewar is calling on the OLRB to hear the joint application that is being submitted by Rainbow District School Board, Durham District School Board and Peel District School Board as quickly as possible. “We value our students and we value our teachers,” she said. “We want our students and our teachers back in the classroom.”
May 11, 2015
Information for Students and Parents/Guardians: Labour Disruption in Rainbow Secondary Schools
May 8, 2015
Labour Disruption by Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation – District 3
Clarification of Statements about Strike Action
May 7, 2015
Grade 12 students who have applied to colleges and/or universities outside of Ontario are asked to call their secondary school by Tuesday, May 12, 2015. Please provide the following information - your name, the name of the college(s) and universities outside of Ontario that you have applied to, as well as the program(s) of study to which you applied. Your school Principal will send these institutions a letter on your behalf. To access a sample of the letter, please see the document below.
May 6, 2015
We remain ready and willing to negotiate with OSSTF – District 3 at any time.
We join with the Peel District School Board in respectfully requesting that teachers encourage their local bargaining agents to pause the local strike action until provincial negotiations are settled.
We value our teachers and want them back in the classroom as soon as possible.
We thank students and parents/guardians for their ongoing patience.
April 28, 2015
Important Message for Co-operative Education Employers
April 25, 2015
News Release: OSSTF – District 3 decides to strike as of Monday, April 27, 2015
Rainbow secondary schools closed to students
Instructional programs for Grades 9 to 12 cancelled
The Rainbow District School Board has been advised that the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF – District 3), representing secondary teachers and secondary occasional teachers, will begin legal strike action on Monday, April 27, 2015. As a result of this decision by the teachers’ union, Rainbow District School Board has been forced to cancel all instructional programs for students in Grades 9 to 12.
“The Board came to the table ready to negotiate and responded to all union proposals. The union chose not to respond and advised the Board, through the mediator, that the parties were at an impasse, they did not see any possibility of progress or a settlement, and that there would be a strike as of Monday, April 27, 2015,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “In fact, the union suggested the time would be better spent preparing for the strike.”
Chair Dewar said she was extremely disappointed that OSSTF – District 3 has chosen to withdraw their services locally. “We believe progress was possible and that our time would be better spent negotiating. The union, however, did not come back to the table to respond. They also advised that they would be cancelling the next day of bargaining, effectively shutting the door on any opportunity to move forward.”
Chair Dewar added: “Our students and their families are caught in a dispute that is really between OSSTF and the province. We value our secondary teachers in the classroom and, in the best interest of students, we encourage OSSTF – District 3 to join us in resuming local negotiations as quickly as possible.” Chair Dewar thanked the Ministry of Labour and the mediator for granting the Board’s request to provide the parties with assistance at the bargaining table.
Students and parents/guardians are advised that, as of Monday, April 27, 2015, all Rainbow secondary schools will be closed to students, including Barrydowne College and the Adult Day School.
Buses for secondary students will not operate.
Buses will continue their routes for elementary students only.
Dual credits will continue at Cambrian College.
Programs for Grade 7 and 8 students at Chelmsford Valley District Composite School will continue at Chelmsford Public School.
Programs for Grade 7 and 8 students at Lively District Secondary School will continue at Walden Public School.
Community use of schools, in the evenings and on weekends, will proceed as scheduled.
Students are encouraged to continue their learning through self-directed study.
Students and parents/guardians are reminded to visit the Board website for updates.
Rainbow District School Board has approximately 5,000 secondary students in 10 secondary schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island. There are 401 permanent secondary teachers and 125 occasional secondary teachers in Rainbow Schools.
April 23, 2015
April 15, 2015
News Release: Instructional programs for Grades 9 to 12 cancelled in event of strike
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF – District 3), representing secondary teachers and secondary occasional teachers in Rainbow District School Board, may begin legal strike action on Monday, April 27, 2015.
Should a full withdrawal of services occur, all instructional programs for Grades 9 to 12 will be cancelled and all Rainbow secondary schools will be closed to students, including Barrydowne College and the Adult Day School.
Extra-curricular activities, field trips, school events and Co-operative Education placements will also be cancelled for the duration of the strike.
Dual credits will continue at Cambrian College.
Programs for Grade 7 and 8 students at Chelmsford Valley District Composite School and Lively District Secondary School will continue. Details about any contingency plans for these students will be shared at a later date.
Buses for secondary students will not operate. Buses will continue their routes for elementary students only.
Community use of schools, in the evenings and on weekends, will continue as scheduled.
“We value our secondary teachers and the work they do with students,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “We continue to negotiate and are committed to reaching a local settlement.” She added: “We thank parents/guardians and students for their patience and understanding.”
Elementary Teachers Labour Update
December 9, 2015
Rainbow District School Board and the Federation representing permanent elementary teachers and occasional elementary teachers in Sudbury, Espanola, Manitoulin Island and Shining Tree have reached tentative agreements at the local level.
Details of each agreement will be released once they have been ratified by members of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) Rainbow Teacher Local and approved by the Board of Trustees.
The new deals, if ratified and approved, will be in effect from September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2017, aligning with the provincial settlements at the central bargaining table.
“These agreements, achieved in a spirit of collaboration and goodwill, will bring renewed peace and stability to our elementary schools,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “This is good news for our students, parents/guardians and staff.”
She added: “We commend the bargaining teams from the Board and the Federation for working diligently to bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion.”
November 24, 2015
An Important Message for Parents/Guardians:
Fall Progress Report Cards – Kindergarten
An Important Message for Parents/Guardians:
Fall Progress Report Cards – Grades 1 To 8
November 13, 2015
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) have ratified a collective agreement at the provincial level.
September 22, 2015
Important Message for Parents/Guardians:
ETFO Legal Job Action With Respect to the Status Of Bargaining at the Provincial Level
June 18, 2015
Important Message for Parents/Guardians:
Final Report Cards for 2014-2015 School Year
May 19, 2015
Important Notice for Parents/Guardians:
EQAO Assessments for Grade 3 and Grade 6
May 8, 2015
May 6, 2015
Rainbow District School Board has received notice from the
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) that elementary teachers
will engage in a legal provincial strike in respect of central bargaining
commencing on Monday, May 11, 2015.
We understand that job action will be in the form of an administrative
work to rule campaign.
At this time we do not anticipate a full strike.
All elementary schools will be open and all classes from
Early Learning – Kindergarten to Grade 8 will continue.
Busing for elementary students will run as scheduled.
Child care services will also continue.
Rainbow District School Board will provide more information
as it becomes available.
We have confidence in the professionalism of our teachers and
value their work with students.
We remain optimistic that an agreement will be reached.