Message from the Director of Education
regarding the CUPE strike:
 
Dear Families,

I am writing to provide you with an update on plans by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) to begin full strike action on Monday, Oct. 7.

CUPE announced earlier this week they would escalate from a partial withdrawal of services, which began on Sept. 30, to a full walkout if an agreement between the government and the employer association is not reached.

A full walkout means that CUPE staff would not report to work. In Limestone, this includes about 700 staff including custodians, maintenance staff, office administrators, clerical staff, early childhood educators, educational assistants, communicative disorders assistants, and information technology technicians.

Given the magnitude of this strike, we cannot safely operate our schools. This means we will close all schools to students on Monday, Oct. 7 – if an agreement is not reached this weekend. If a deal is reached over the weekend, or all parties commit to continued bargaining, a strike might not occur. We will confirm the status of our schools Monday morning, much the way we handle inclement weather days. We will share information by 6 a.m. on our Board communication channels and direct messages to families.

A school closure means that:

• students will not be permitted at school. Parents and guardians will need to find alternate arrangements for their children for the duration of the strike.
• students attending Cooperative Education, School Within a College (SWAC), Dual Credits, and the Building Construction Internship Program (BCIP) will be permitted to continue their learning as it is offsite.
• students participating in eLearning courses may continue their learning as well.
• all extra-curricular activities will be cancelled.
• teaching staff and non-unionized staff are required to report to work.
• child-care facilities operating in our schools, including before-and after-care, will also be closed. Families who use these services will need to make alternate arrangements for their children.

• all Community Use of Schools programs are cancelled. Users of our school facilities will need to make alternative arrangements for their activities.

Please know that school closures are rare, however, the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. The decision to close schools is not taken lightly and many items were considered in making this decision including, but not limited to:

• overall health, safety and well-being;
• appropriate supervision;
• attendance management;
• medical supports and care;
• safe operation of water and sanitation systems including mandatory water flushing; and
• conditions of school buildings and classrooms. 

It is unclear how long a strike might last. As such, parents and guardians should arrange their own contingency plans for possible ongoing school closures. The latest updates will always be available on the Board website and social media channels.

We are hopeful that a provincial agreement can be reached soon. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Debra Rantz,
Director of Education

For more information, please contact:
Jane Douglas, Communications officer
Communications Officer
613-544-6925 x 311 | 613-328-0916 mobile
Karen Smith, Communications Officer
613-544-6925 x 314 | 613-328-0947 mobile