GTHA parents told they can’t help clean up messy schools as work-to-rule continues

TORONTO — Schools are getting filthier as ongoing work-to-rule campaigns continue throughout the GTA, and that has some parents fuming.

Some parents are offering to volunteer their time, roll up their sleeves and clean up messy hallways, but they’re being told they’re not allowed to do so.

Sean Ernst’s five-year-old son is a student at Yorkview Public School in Dundas, Ont. and he said the like of clean facilities is causing problems at home.

“He’s coming home with dirty pants, dirty shoes and blackened socks that we can’t even wash,” he said.

“No matter how many times we wash them, (we) can’t get them clean.”

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Officials at the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board are saying thanks but no thanks to parents, while cautioning them against doing staff work.

“We appreciate the offers and we thank them for their participation,” says Board Chair Todd White.

“We believe no contract work or outside work should be done by volunteers, that is work according to collective agreements and we respect collective agreements.”

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Other school boards in the region have a similar policy citing health and safety concerns.

CUPE officials agree and said it’s not helpful to do the work of staff because volunteers would be intervening during a labour dispute, which could have a negative impact by prolonging the dispute.

“I think it’s sad they won’t allow us to do it,” says parent Megan Dunn.

“Because then that interferes with process of trying to get themselves heard … it’s disheartening.”

Ernst said it may be time to get a higher level of government involved in the issue.

“I think it’s almost at the point you have to have Health Ministry come in and investigate the schools like apartment buildings, restaurants, to see how clean they are,” says Ernst.

Non-unionized management staff from Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, including principals, are making the rounds and cleaning schools every two weeks.

The provincial government has a set a deadline of Nov. 1 for when it will consider docking pay if work-to-rule action isn’t over by then.

Meanwhile,Talks continue at the central table between ETFO, OSSTF and CUPE.