On April 27, 2017, the Ontario government tabled its 2017 Budget “A Stronger, Healthier Ontario” (Budget) and Bill 127, Stronger, Healthier Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2017 (Budget Bill), omnibus legislation designed to implement some of the proposals contained in the Budget. In this FTR Now, we highlight key proposals that are of particular interest to…
Industry: School Boards
Ontario Announces Additional Funding to Reduce Class Sizes and to Support Students at Risk
The Ontario government has announced that nine central agreements have been reached between trustees’ associations and education workers’ unions and teachers’ federations. These agreements will be in force from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2019. The government has also announced additional funding for the following: to hire approximately 875 teachers and 1600 education workers…
Bill 92, School Boards Collective Bargaining Amendment Act, 2017, Receives Royal Assent
On March 27, 2017, Bill 92, School Boards Collective Bargaining Amendment Act, 2017, received Royal Assent. The Bill amends the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014 and reforms the collective bargaining framework in the education sector. Amendments include, among other things, making central bargaining a mandatory component of collective bargaining and permitting an employer bargaining…
Leaves of Absence, Procedural Matters and More
In this latest edition of our School Board Update, we are bringing you summaries of three recent cases which will be of interest. They deal with abuse of process at arbitration, entitlement of part-time and custodial employees to miscellaneous leaves, and the balancing of religious freedom with other statutory requirements…
Ontario Proposes Key Reforms to the Framework for Collective Bargaining in the Education Sector
Significant proposed reforms to the existing framework for collective bargaining in the education sector may change the way school boards and unions negotiate agreements – and could impact the outcomes achieved at the table. Find out what may be in store…
FTR Quarterly – Issue 4, Volume 1
This issue features articles on; Human Resources Trends and Issues to Watch in 2017, the Top 10 Developments in Human Resources Law in 2016 and the Featured Lawyer is Amy R. Tibble…
Arbitrator Rules That He Has No Jurisdiction Over ETFO Central Grievance Concerning Report Cards
In a significant decision, Arbitrator Hayes has concluded that, as a Central Arbitrator, he does not have jurisdiction under the central terms of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) collective agreements to consider a grievance concerning a school board’s instructions to teachers regarding the preparation of report cards…
Protecting Students Act Passes Third Reading
On November 15, 2016, Bill 37, Protecting Students Act, 2016, passed Third Reading…
Arbitrator Orders New Sick Leave Provisions for ETFO Teachers
In an important interest arbitration award, Arbitrator William Kaplan accepted the proposal of the Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA) and the Crown to add two specific sick leave provisions to the central terms of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) teachers’ collective agreements…
Ministry Releases Code of Practice to Guide Employers in New Workplace Harassment Obligations
On September 8, 2016, changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) will come into force. The amendments require employers to develop policies and programs to prevent harassment, including sexual harassment, in the workplace. The Ministry of Labour has now finalized its “Code of Practice to Address Workplace Harassment under Ontario’s Occupational Health and…