For the most recent, up-to-date information, please see this letter to families.
In Ontario, collective bargaining for the education sector is a two-tier process.
Central bargaining takes place between the Government of Ontario, trustee associations and provincial unions and federations. It typically involves significant monetary and policy issues, such as compensations and benefits.
Local negotiations occur between the school board and the local unions and federations. Local negotiations typically involve non-monetary issues or issues specific to the local board.
Central bargaining is currently taking place in the Ontario education sector.
We know families have many questions about how this process will affect you and your child’s learning. Read our frequently asked questions to learn more.
We will continue to keep families updated as information becomes available. Please check your email, visit this webpage or follow us on Twitter @YRDSB for updated information.
Letters to Families
Dear families,
CUPE has announced a tentative agreement and that the strike will not occur on Monday, November 21. As a result, all YRDSB schools will reopen to students and all staff on Monday, November 21.
Regular programming is expected to continue in-person. Student transportation services (e.g. busing and taxi services) will be operating. Child care and permits will operate normally.
If your child will not be at school, please report your child’s absence.
November 17, 2022
Dear families,
Strike Action Beginning November 21, 2022
Yesterday, we sent you a message regarding the notice from CUPE regarding province-wide strike action of full withdrawal of services beginning on Monday, November 21, 2022. As a reminder, if a settlement is not reached and the strike proceeds, schools will be closed to students beginning on November 21, 2022, until the strike action concludes.
If the strike action proceeds, synchronous (live) learning will begin on Monday, November 21, 2022. We appreciate that some children may require technology and may not be able to participate on the first day. Please contact your child’s school if you need support. Your child’s teacher will communicate with their class regarding learning for the potential closure.
Letter from York Region Public Health
York Region Public Health has issued an important message for families regarding masking and other measures families can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19, RSV and influenza.
Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we navigate provincial bargaining and promote public health measures to keep our schools and communities healthy.
November 16, 2022
Dear families,
Earlier today, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) provided notice that their members will participate in strike action of full withdrawal of services province-wide, affecting YRDSB schools to begin on Monday, November 21, 2022 if a settlement is not reached. As mentioned previously, at York Region District School Board, CUPE represents over 4,000 staff who provide critical services to our school board, including Caretakers, Maintenance staff, Educational Assistants (EAs), Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECEs), Child Youth Workers (CYWs), Clerical staff, Information Technology (IT) and other support staff members.
Should the strike action occur, schools will be closed to students on Monday, November 21. Families are strongly encouraged to make alternate arrangements for your children prior to the strike. Parents are asked to remind students to take personal belongings home on Thursday in anticipation of the potential full withdrawal of services occurring.
Your child’s teacher will communicate with their class regarding learning for the potential closure.
Full Day Childcare programs operating at schools are anticipated to operate normally, however will close by 4:30pm. Please confirm with your provider. Before and After school care programs will be closed.
We anticipate receiving additional information over the coming days and will provide updates to families as they become available. Please visit the Board website www.yrdsb.ca/bargaining or Twitter account @yrdsb for immediate updates.
We recognize this situation is disappointing for all involved. This was not an easy decision to make; your child’s safety continues to be our first priority. Families are a valued partner in education and we thank you for your support and for everything you do each and every day to help students succeed. We value the relationships we have with our families and community partners. I can appreciate that this uncertainty will affect our students and families, and I want you to know that we are doing everything we can to support our students.
Sincerely,
Scott Yake,
Director of Education (Interim)
Dear families,
CUPE has announced that the planned political protest will end on Monday, November 7. As a result, all YRDSB schools will reopen on Tuesday, November 8. Regular programming is expected to continue. Student transportation services (e.g. busing and taxi services) will be operating. Child care and permits will operate normally. All Indigenous Languages and International Languages face to face classes will also resume on November 8, 2022.
If your child will not be at school, please report your child’s absence.
November 4, 2022
Dear families,
CUPE has provided notice that their withdrawal of service will continue, York Region District School Board schools will remain closed to students until CUPE members return to work.
Teachers will be available to support student learning and your child’s teacher will communicate with you regarding learning activities. On November 7, students will continue with independent asynchronous learning. Should the withdrawal of service continue, synchronous (real-time live) online learning will begin Tuesday, November 8, and your child’s teacher will be in contact with you regarding next steps.
We appreciate that some families may require technology to participate in synchronous online learning and are finalizing plans to distribute technology. We will share more information regarding technology distribution in the coming days.
Bus and taxi transportation service to YRDSB schools is cancelled and before and aftercare programs will not be operating. At this time, child care centres remain open and will close by 4:30 p.m. Please contact your child care provider for additional details.
For more information, including information on when schools and Board locations are re-opening, visit www.yrdsb.ca or follow us on Twitter @YRDSB.
YRDSB
November 2, 2022
Dear families,
Earlier this week, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) provided notice that their members will conduct a province-wide political protest affecting YRDSB schools on Friday, November 4, 2022. As mentioned previously, at York Region District School Board, CUPE represents over 4,000 staff who provide critical services to our school board, including Caretakers, Maintenance staff, Educational Assistants (EAs), Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECEs), Child Youth Workers (CYWs), Clerical staff, Information Technology (IT) and other support staff members.
Schools will be closed to students on Friday, November 4. Families are strongly encouraged to make alternate arrangements for your children prior to the protest. Please do not send any students to school on November 4.
Your child’s teacher will communicate with their class regarding learning for the anticipated closure on November 4. Asynchronous learning will occur for students who regularly attend in-person. This does not affect virtual schools, which will operate as scheduled on November 4.
Full Day Childcare programs operating at schools are anticipated to operate normally, however will close by 4:30pm. Please confirm with your provider. Before and After school care programs will be closed.
If circumstances change, we will continue to update you and will provide as much information as possible. Please visit the Board website: www.yrdsb.ca/bargaining or Twitter account @yrdsb for immediate updates.
We recognize this situation is disappointing for all involved. This was not an easy decision to make; your child’s safety continues to be our first priority.
Sincerely,
Scott Yake,
Director of Education (Interim)
October 31, 2022
Dear Families,
As you may be aware, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is currently engaged in provincial-level education bargaining for a new contract. At York Region District School Board, CUPE represents over 4,000 staff who provide critical services to our school board, including Caretakers, Maintenance staff, Educational Assistants (EAs), Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECEs), Child Youth Workers (CYWs), Clerical staff, Information Technology (IT) and other support staff members.
Over the weekend, both CUPE and the provincial government made announcements regarding the status of bargaining and next steps as it relates to schools. We appreciate that there may be mixed information regarding these talks.
At this time, the most current information we have is that the government is legislating a contract for CUPE. However, in a news conference this afternoon, CUPE leadership stated that they will stage a province-wide political protest on Friday, November 4, 2022. While we monitor this situation and its potential effect on school operations, we encourage families whose children attend in-person learning to begin making alternate arrangements for childcare.
The situation provincially continues to evolve and we would like families to have the most up-to-date information possible. We encourage you to visit www.yrdsb.ca/bargaining and monitor emails from the Board regularly in the event there is new information to share. You may also follow our Twitter account @yrdsb for immediate updates.
YRDSB is not directly involved in this level of bargaining and we remain committed to making decisions in the best interests of student safety and learning.