Labour Updates

Labour Updates

November 20, 2022

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
CUPE AND PROVINCE REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Province of Ontario have reached a tentative agreement with respect to bargaining at the provincial level.

Rainbow Schools will be open on Monday, November 21, 2022 with cleaners, custodians and maintenance staff.

We value our Facilities staff and the services they provide in our schools.

As always, we thank you and your children for your patience and understanding.

November 17, 2022

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
CUPE JOB ACTION WITH RESPECT TO PROVINCIAL BARGAINING

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents our cleaners, custodians and maintenance staff, has advised school boards across Ontario that its members will engage in a full withdrawal of services Monday, November 21, 2022 unless a negotiated settlement is reached.

This job action is in response to the status of bargaining at the provincial level.

Based on the information that we have at this time, Rainbow Schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island will remain open on Monday.

For questions regarding school-based childcare, please contact your service provider.

Please be assured that we are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information as it becomes available.

For labour updates, please visit rainbowschools.ca.

As always, we value our Facilities staff and the services they provide in our schools.

We remain hopeful that a provincial resolution will be achieved.

We acknowledge that this is a challenging situation for everyone and thank you and your children for your ongoing patience and understanding.

CLASSES FOR ALL IN-PERSON LEARNERS CONTINUE

November 7, 2022

Dear Parents/Guardians:

There were new developments on the provincial labour front today.

The Premier of Ontario agreed to rescind Bill 28.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) agreed to return to the bargaining table.

It is our hope that the parties at the provincial level may reach a negotiated settlement.

CUPE members across Ontario will be back to work as of Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

This includes our valued custodial and maintenance employees in all Rainbow Schools.

We look forward to having a full complement of staff in schools as of tomorrow.

We thank you and your children for your continued patience and understanding.

Please be assured that we will share any further developments with you, as necessary.

CLASSES FOR ALL IN-PERSON LEARNERS RESUME ON MONDAY

November 4, 2022

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Thank you for your ongoing patience with the job action impacting our schools as a result of the status of bargaining at the provincial level.

Today, we reached out to all of our union and federation partners for an update. At this time, our custodial and maintenance employees represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will continue their withdrawal of services into next week, unless a resolution is reached provincially over the weekend.

Our Educational Assistants, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), are engaged in their day of protest today and, at this time, they have indicated to us that they will be back in the classroom as of Monday.

There is a possibility with our labour partners that their status may change depending on what is happening at the provincial level. We continue to monitor the situation and will respond accordingly.

Based on current information, classes for in-person learners at all Rainbow Schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island will resume on Monday, November 7, 2022. Should there be any changes over the weekend, we will share information with you as soon as possible.

It is our hope that the parties at the provincial level may reach a resolution. Should matters beyond our control lead to more disruptions, parents/guardians may wish to make alternative childcare arrangements as a contingency plan.

We recognize that provincial negotiations have created challenges for all of us locally, especially for our parents/guardians and students. As always, we thank you for your continued understanding as we respond to this fluid situation.

For labour updates, please visit rainbowschools.ca.

CLASSES FOR ALL IN-PERSON LEARNERS CANCELLED ON FRIDAY
LEARNING AT VIRTUAL SCHOOL CONTINUES

November 3, 2022

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents Educational Assistants in Rainbow Schools, announced earlier this morning that it will engage in a day of protest and withdraw their services on Friday, November 4, 2022. This is in addition to CUPE’s withdrawal of services.

Educational Assistants work directly with students who have special needs. CUPE represents custodial and maintenance staff in Rainbow Schools. Job action is in response to the status of bargaining at the provincial level.

Given that we are without the services of more than 425 staff members tomorrow, we can no longer ensure the health and safety of students. For this reason, classes for in-person learners at all Rainbow Schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island are cancelled on Friday, November 4, 2022. Please do not send your children to school for in-person learning tomorrow.

This notice does not affect students enrolled in the Virtual School. Remote learning through the Virtual School will continue. For questions regarding any impact to childcare services in Rainbow Schools, please contact your provider.

Please be assured that we are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information as soon as possible.

For labour updates, please visit rainbowschools.ca.

We value our Educational Assistants as well as our Facilities staff. As always, we remain hopeful that an agreement will be reached. We recognize that this is a difficult situation for everyone involved. Thank you for your ongoing patience.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
CUPE JOB ACTION WITH RESPECT TO PROVINCIAL BARGAINING

November 1, 2022

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents our cleaners, custodians and maintenance staff, has advised school boards across Ontario that its members will engage in a full withdrawal of services Friday, November 4, 2022.

This job action is in response to the status of bargaining at the provincial level.

Rainbow Schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island will remain open on Friday. We have been advised that CUPE will not picket schools.

While we remain hopeful that a provincial resolution will be achieved, parents/guardians are encouraged to make alternative childcare arrangements should job action continue.

Please be assured that we are monitoring the situation closely and will share more information with you as it becomes available.

For questions regarding school-based childcare, please contact your service provider.

For labour updates, please visit rainbowschools.ca.

We value our Facilities staff and the services they provide in our schools.

We acknowledge that this is a challenging situation and thank you and your children for your patience and understanding.