High schools in Durham, Peel reopen after teachers’ strike deemed illegal

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Class is back in session after the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) ruled on Tuesday that the strikes by teachers in Peel, Durham and Sudbury were illegal.

The notice came a day after back-to-work legislation was introduced by Education Minister Liz Sandals and was expected to be passed within the week.

In its decision, the OLRB said the strikes were “in contravention of the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014” and they have ordered the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF),to “cease and desist their unlawful strike” immediately.

“Today’s decision is not only important because our students will now be able to return to their schools and continue their education, but also because it reaffirms the required bargaining framework for school boards and all employee groups,” Durham District School Board chair Michael Barrett said in a release.

However, the Peel board has announced that they will not be conducting final exams next month in any courses. Instead, final grades will be based on “100 per cent of term work and zero per cent on final assessments.” Regular classes will take place during days previously designated for exams.

While the OLRB ruling won’t permanently halt local strikes, the Ontario government’s planned back-to-work legislation would mean teachers in those boards can’t strike for the rest of the school year.

“Until we know more about the situation with the OLRB ruling and with the union response, we’re going to keep moving ahead with our legislation,” Sandals said. “We want the kids in school and we want them to be assured — (both) the kids and their families — that when they go back to school they will stay in school for the rest of the year.”

Teachers in the three regions have been on strike between three and six weeks and have affected approximately 70,000 high school students.

Below is the OLRB’s decision in full:

Ontario Labour Relations Board decicion on legality of school strikes

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