Both the Lambton-Kent District School Board and the St. Clair Catholic District School Board have confirmed that all of their schools will be closed to students on Friday, November 4, 2022.
“Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) was notified that members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1238 would join their colleagues across the province in a legal strike involving a full withdrawal of services in Ontario schools, effective Friday, November 4, 2022,” John Howitt, Director of Education for the Lambton-Kent District School Board, said in a letter issued to parents on Thursday.
“On Monday, October 31, the Government of Ontario introduced legislation called the Keeping Students in Class Act, which if passed, would remove the right to a legal strike and legislates a four-year provincial collective agreement for CUPE education workers.”
Howitt added: “Based on the knowledge to date, the LKDSB is anticipating CUPE staff will participate in a provincial political demonstration and will not report to work on Friday, November 4, 2022. As such, important supports for schools would not be in place and the LKDSB will not be able to safely operate our schools. In our schools and across our system, CUPE represents custodians, early childhood educators, educational assistants, secretaries, library and computer technicians and other school-based and central staff members.”
As such, all LKDSB schools will be closed to students on Friday, November 4, 2022, Howitt said.
“Should the disruption to learning continue during the week of November 7-11, schools will remain closed to students,” Howitt said.
“Please continue to check the LKDSB website regularly for up-to-date information including updates on virtual programming should the political demonstration continue into next week. The LKDSB is hopeful for a resolution in a timely manner.”
Scott Johnson, Director of Education for the St. Clair Catholic District School Board, said although earlier in the day there was some hope for an 11th hour agreement in the dispute between CUPE and the Ontario government, “we are now aware that talks have broken off.
“This means CUPE education workers across the province will not report for work tomorrow. As previously communicated, without the in-school support of our CUPE staff, the St. Clair Catholic District School Board cannot ensure learning environments will remain safe and clean for all students and staff. The Board has no option but to close schools to all students tomorrow, Friday, November 4, 2022. Again, we do not take this decision lightly; however, student supervision, safety and wellbeing are the Board’s first priority,” Johnson said in a letter to parent on Thursday.
At this point, the length of the work stoppage is not known, Johnson added.
“Although the Ontario government has introduced legislation to avert a strike by CUPE, the union has made public statements in the media that it will defy any return to work order and remain on strike until further notice,” he said.
“Parents/guardians should prepare for an uncertain future and make alternate child care arrangements, as necessary. Should the strike continue into next week, St. Clair Catholic has a plan in place to switch to remote learning. Further details will be communicated tomorrow.”
Johnson added: “We continue to be hopeful that negotiations will resume and that CUPE and the Ontario government will reach an agreement that is fair and equitable to all parties. There will be further communications as new information becomes available.”
Visit the Lambton-Kent District School Board website and the St. Clair Catholic District School Board website for update-to-date information regarding contract negotiations.​​​
Some more background can be found, here: Education support workers walking out Friday, despite legislation; schools preparing to close
Watch for more details on this story.
