Outbreak at Glamorgan Junior Public School has teachers refusing to work

BY PAUL JUNOR

As the number of positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to increase in schools in Ontario, it has caused much anxiety, stress and dismay among staff members. Last week there was an outbreak at an elementary school (Glamorgan Junior Public School). It reported that nine staff members and two students tested positive. This resulted in 58 students being sent home from one wing of the school to self-isolate for 14 days.

A certain number of staff members decided on Monday, November 2nd, 2020 that they would refuse to enter the school and work as the TDSB decided to keep the school open. The teachers issued a statement anonymously that they believed that there was the movement of staff members from the identified wing to the other wing, which could potentially place other staff and students at risk. They requested that the principal and TDSB close the school and implement additional safety measures. Unfortunately, this did not occur, and they refused to work.

Don MacMillan, union representative of CUPE told CP24 that it is a “Terrible situation.” He stated, “The kids need to be in school, but we don’t need to be in an unsafe environment, by any means, by any sort.” It was revealed that several early childhood educators are also part of the work refusal at the school.

In order to respond to the lack of adult supervision in the school, the TDSB sent four Vice-Principals and support staff to the school. By midday, there was an additional: Principal, Vice-Principal as well as one occasional teacher, three lunchroom supervisors and one YMCA supervisor.

President of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT) reported, “Because this is an individual work refusal, what the teachers do will depend on what they hear as a response from the Ministry of Labour to their direct concerns.” By examining what is occurring in the school, she notes, “The fact that it is in an area of the school, gives rise to the question about whether it is something to do with ventilation. Is it going to permeate through the building? We know that the government hasn’t funded for fixing the schools in a regular type of way so how is this being addressed? These are issues that have not been answered.”

The principal Teri Molnar in a letter to parents/guardians/caregivers informed them that the Ministry of Labour and Toronto Public Health (TPH) found that the school was safe to stay open. After their investigation Toronto Public Health stated, “It does not indicate that we need to close the other wing of the school.”

The Ministry of Labour inspected the school on October 29th, 2020, and their health and safety inspection found the building safe. It reported that, “The employer is conducting an internal investigation. At this time there is no further action required by our ministry as parties are required to investigate work refusals internally before calling the ministry.”