Teachers' union to grieve working in extreme heat when students off
New Brunswick Teachers' Federation says forcing teachers to work June 20 violated collective agreement
The teachers' union plans to file a grievance against the province after some teachers had to work June 20, even though most students had the day off or were dismissed early due to the extreme heat.
Peter Lagacy, co-president of the New Brunswick Teachers' Federation, described the final days of the school year as "considerably challenging for many."
"Teachers must follow their employers' directives," he said in an emailed statement.
"This situation is complex due to the lack of consistency across the province and in cases where there was a violation of the collective agreement, we will be left with no choice to file a grievance."
The francophone school districts told parents to keep their children home on June 20 with a few exceptions, and most of the anglophone districts sent students home early that day.
Environment Canada had issued heat warnings across the province, with a maximum temperature of 30 C to 35 C forecast and the humidex making it feel more like 39 to 45.
Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature or humidity conditions are expected to "pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion," according to the weather agency.
Violation of Article 16, union alleges
The union contends forcing teachers to work was a violation of Article 16 of their collective agreement.
Under Article 16, when a school is closed due to bad weather, teachers of that school are not required to be present.
In addition, when a school is closed by order of the employer, teachers are not required to be present unless activities requiring their presence have been planned, or students have been transferred elsewhere, in which case teachers may have to work there.
'Districts decide,' says minister
Education Minister Bill Hogan had little to say on the matter.
"We recently got through a very awful week for June. Our schools are very hot right now," he told reporters in French.
"Districts decide whether to close entirely or just partially. I don't know the specifics of what happened with the teachers. It is up to the federation to determine whether to file a grievance."
As of Wednesday, the department had not received any grievances, spokesperson Judy Désalliers told CBC News.
She declined further comment, directing inquiries to the school districts.
Left up to schools, says Francophone South
Francophone South School District initially asked all school staff to report to work on that Thursday, "but given the intensifying heat, we reassessed this position," spokesperson Geneviève Chiasson said in an email in French.
"Their presence at school on the afternoon of June 20 was left to the discretion of the principals and vice-principals of each school."
Students at 35 of Francophone South's schools had the full day off because 34 of those schools don't have air conditioning, and the air conditioning system at the other one is under repair, Chiasson confirmed.
Students at Centre scolaire Samuel-de-Champlain in Saint John were dismissed three hours early, with those in kindergarten to Grade 2 leaving at 11:15 a.m. and those in grades 3 to 8 at 12:25 p.m., she said.
Baie–Sainte-Anne Regional School and Sainte-Anne School, in northeastern New Brunswick, which are both equipped with air conditioning, maintained a normal schedule despite the heat.
Many schools in New Brunswick do not have air conditioning. (Josh Crabb/CBC)
Francophone Northwest schools were not closed, spokesperson Monica Martin stressed, "but students were indeed on leave."
"Employees who are able to work remotely were given this opportunity," she said in French. "It should be noted that all our teachers have the appropriate tools to telework," she added.
Francophone Northeast, which closed its schools to students after temperature samples it collected in schools and school buses on June 19 confirmed "a very high ambient temperature," did not respond to a request for comment about whether its teachers had to work.
Anglophone South, which sent K-8 students home two hours early, "didn't share any directive that teachers at the schools with early dismissal had to remain beyond what is outlined in the collective agreement," said spokesperson Jessica Hanlon.
Anglophone West, which also sent K-8 students home two hours early, is not aware of any grievances, spokesperson Paul MacIntosh said Wednesday afternoon.
"If that changes, there is a process we would follow that does not include any discussion through the media," he said in an emailed statement.
MacIntosh did not respond to other questions, such as whether teachers in his district were required to work, or what type of work they would have to do if there were no classes or students in the schools.
Anglophone North, which issued an early dismissal for students from June 19 to June 21, is unaware of any grievance either, said spokesperson Meredith Caissie.
Asked if teachers had to work when students were not present, she replied: "When there is an early dismissal due to weather, the practice is for teachers to remain at school until after the last students have been dismissed and are safely on route for home. This is usually about 30 minutes after the last bus has been dismissed."
The Anglophone East district did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
With files from Pascal Raiche-Nogue
Figures
We are teachers, we have class.
As an adult with a child who doesn't think like an adult or make adult decisions, I had to work that day also and my child got to stay home where I knew she would be safe and not get heat stroke. I am able to take steps to mitigate heat - small children aren't. But if this sets precedent for adults to be treated like children then count me in!
David Amos
Reply to Amanda Matthews
Count me out
William Murdoch
Yeah but they can still call in sick for hunting season, right?
Reply to William Murdoch
Of course
["Employees who are able to work remotely were given this opportunity," she said in French. "It should be noted that all our teachers have the appropriate tools to telework," she added.]
What if it was too hot at their houses ? Tough to be a teacher with 2+ months off every year.
Le Wier
Reply to Laura Smith
Teacher wages are garnished through out the year to pay themselves over the summer when they are not employed or paid. The money teachers receive during the summer months is their own money they earned through out the 10 months they were employed. If you are interested in having your wages garnished so you can have 2 months off a year discuss it with your employer.
Reply to William Murdoch
No, teachers can’t draw EI over the summer, because they are technically not unemployed. They are under a 10 month contract and return the end of August.
Reply to William Murdoch
But a teacher not on a full time contract doesn’t have their wages garnished, and are able to draw EI even if they are rehired in September.
Reply to Le Wier
They have it some rough EH?
Reply to David Amos
Belong in Kindergarten....they do !!
Reply to Le Wier
I don't think "garnish" is the correct term but the point is understood.
Reply to MR Cain
I understand you don’t like the term”garnish” but is correct and the practice now becoming more in NB as a law has been passed in 2020 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/credit-experts-wage-garnishee-1.5419220
Reply to Le Wier
For 60 to over 100 thousand for 37 weeks work , I'm in !
Reply to Lou Bell
And inflation was built into their last collective agreement. Higgs is a good negotiator.
Reply to Le Wier
Teachers earn great pay for 37 weeks of work . Then , if they want , they can work an extra 1 to 10 weeks extra over the summer for more wages . And still get 2 weeks at Xmas and 1 week at Easter off .
Reply to Lou Bell
Yes teachers could work over the summer months, and I am sure some do. That would put them into a higher tax bracket, and it might not be worth it come tax season.
Reply to Le Wier
They get excellent benefits , an excellent Pension program . All the while 76 % of NBers who work for Private Business have no pension whatsoever , make much less , and are expected to pay for the pensions of these well paid public servants .
Reply to Lou Bell
You forgot to mention it is a shared risk pension. Higgs negotiated that.
Reply to Le Wier
So they're so well paid it's not worth it for them to work in the summer . It shows in the results of our education system what we're getting for our money , and it's not good ! .
Reply to Lou Bell
It’s probably worth it for teachers not on a full time contract to work over the summer.
Reply to Le Wier
And you don't realize the returns on the shared risk is much better than the defined pensions . The head of their Union has stated they're very happy with their pensions and the results . The defined plan is short 287 million dollars and is still giving those in that part of the union much poorer results .
Reply to Lou Bell
That is why I mentioned it and said Higgs negotiated it
Reply to Le Wier
In the teacher's case, the money is deducted from their pay cheques and returned to cover the summer months. The link is about taking money due to debt.
Reply to MR Cain
You said you didn’t like the term garnish and I said garnishing wages is becoming more common due to a law that has been passed. I attached the link because you would argue it wasn’t a law. Can’t you accept the term I used is correct?
Reply to Le Wier
Because the link has nothing to do with it. It is how they have been paid for years.
Reply to MR Cain
And it’s called garnish wages! That is the legal term.
Reply to MR Cain
Are you always this confrontational?
Reply to Le Wier
Most are too busy working to pay the pensions of our public employees , all the while having no pensions themselves . And then there is the NB Union , who wants NBers to top up the pension fund they themselves underfund by 287 million dollars .
Reply to MR Cain
So you don’t like the legal term garnished wages and a few days ago you didn’t like the name of the FDA food depot allementaire.
Reply to Lou Bell
Yes pensions are hot topics, because like you said so many people don’t or won’t have one when it comes their time to retire.
Reply to Le Wier
When you garnish wages to pay your debts, you don't get money back. Teachers are paid an annual salary. They can be paid 12 times a year or 26 times, depending on contract. Read the link. It is to facilitate creditors getting the money they are owed.
Reply to MR Cain
I used the link as an example to explain to you that garnish wages is a legal term in NB, because you said it wasn’t the proper term.
Reply to Le Wier
Wage garnishment is a method of debt collection in which part of your earnings are withheld each pay period and used to pay back your creditors. Theye are not taking money away from teachers to pay a debt.
Reply to MR Cain
Alright. Teachers ask the payroll department at the school district they work for to hold back the equivalent of 4 paycheques and deposit them into their bank accounts every 2 weeks as normal so they have enough money to live over the summer months when they are not employed by the school district, is that easier for you to understand?
Reply to Le Wier
Finally, you figured it out. Some contracts will just divide the annual salary into 26 pay periods. Not that difficult.
Reply to MR Cain
I always understood it. You’re the one who didn’t
Reply to Le Wier
Le Wier
Reply to MR Cain
You’re wrong again.
Reply to Lou Bell
You seem that you would be the type of teacher Higgs would go for.
Reply to Le Wier
Not about garnishing wages, nor about paying the teacher a salary. Pretty much it. All those years teaching and getting paid every 2 weeks must have been a dream.
Reply to MR Cain
Talk to any teacher, hr, or union rep and the will most certainly use the term garnish of wages. Why does this offend you so much that you won’t let this go? I didn’t do this to you when you didn’t know what FDA meant a few days ago.
Reply to Le Wier
Doesn't offend me at all. I provided the definition, related how I was paid as a teacher. Your story is incorrect, so let it go.
Reply to MR Cain
Where and when did you work as a teacher? Last time you said you were an engineer and if the story is medical related you’re a doctor what is next a lawyer?
Reply to Le Wier
I started out as a civil technologist, worked for engineers for over 20 years, and then taught for a dozen. As a union activist, I also became pretty knowledgeable about contracts, contractual rights, and health and safety regulations.
Reply to MR Cain
But where did you teach and where did you get your degree?
Reply to MR Cain
You say you are pretty knowledgeable, but being knowledgeable and having a degree are two different things.
Them poor teachers, really WOW moment. You can’t make this up.
You should get familiar with health and safety legislation.
Reply to MR Cain
So how many of the teachers died or had to be taken to the hospital that day? None. So adequate health and safety was achieved.
So why send the kids home?
Reply to Shawn Tabor
Kids are more vulnerable.
If it is unsafe for kids, it is not safe for adults. sheesh
Reply to MR Cain
The kids aren't grown adults. Heat would impact a child to a much greater degree.
So all adults are in the same condition too? As an adult I am expected to work in a hazardous workplace?
Reply to Kramer Vandelay
Don’t even bother to talk to him about. He’s says he’s a teacher, and will not pick anything you say to make himself appear right.
Reply to MR Cain
Ex wife was and now retired, school teacher. Makes more money as a fill in supply teacher. Give me a break Mr Cain. Again can’t make this up.
Reply to Shawn Tabor
Try again ok
Reply to Shawn Tabor
He says he’s a teacher so he will argue you to no end
Reply to Le Wier
Them poor teachers, report cards are now cut and pace, heard it all. Should go to a teachers party, there,, the real truth comes out.
Reply to MR Cain
Not hazardous to an adult. The standards are obviously different for children.
Of course it is. That is why it is in the contract.
What has that got to do with health and safety?
Reply to MR Cain
A sunny day isn't 'bad weather'. It is good weather. Your contract is null and void on this point.
Reply to MR Cain
Give it a break, Cain, lived it for many years
Reply to Kramer Vandelay
Yes a child doesn’t sweat the same as an adult to regulate body temperature
Le Wier
Reply to Shawn Tabor
Oh but he won’t
Reply to Le Wier
Their sweat glands aren't fully developed until after puberty.
Reply to Kramer Vandelay
Yes
Health and safety were a big part of my job, Tabor. Do you know anything about the Right to Know legislation? How about employer responsibilities? How about worker's compensation? How about contractual obligations?
Reply to Le Wier
Not here to debate how hard or tough they have it, but really. Give it a break. It would be really tough and rough for the average human to endure the heat. Wow
Reply to Shawn Tabor
But he won’t give it a break
Yeah, and the adult of 50 years is as healthy as a 16 year old.
Reply to Shawn Tabor
He won’t say where or when he taught public school to kids or where he got his degree. He just says he’s knowledgeable. That says it all.
Reply to MR Cain
Know a lot about it, but just a simple electrician underground or shaft sinking. Been as far down as almost 10 thousand feet. The diesel, the dust but still expected to extract the minerals that are used to, let’s say make computers, phones and god knows whats else. Just so i have the chance to debate you on here, on how hard you have it. No unions protecting us, just so know. Still love my job tho. Give it a break boy
Reply to Shawn Tabor
Oh and you should come on down and feel the heat. Too funny
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