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ETFO Calling For Immediate Vaccination Of Education Workers

Laura Hampshire
Apr 5, 2021 | 4:08 PM
Last Updated: Apr 5, 2021 | 4:08 PM

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ETFO Calling For Immediate Vaccination Of Education Workers


The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario is calling on the Ford government and public health units (PHUs) in hot spot areas to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of educators and students, including a temporary move from in-person to virtual learning.

ETFO President Sam Hammond says there is no excuse—no valid reason—to not begin vaccinating all essential workers today; this includes all education workers.

He says the federation will be meeting tomorrow to discuss next steps if the Ford government fails to prioritize education workers and other essential workers.

“Educators firmly believe that quality in-person learning, when done safely, is what is best for students. Unfortunately, due to the Ford government’s repeated refusal to make necessary investments, this is simply not possible in many areas of the province. The government, school boards and PHUs must take immediate action to ensure students and staff are safe, up to and including moving learning online, if that’s what’s deemed necessary,” notes Hammond.

 “By downplaying the transmission of COVID-19 in schools and refusing to provide necessary funding, despite having billions of dollars in unallocated contingency funds, the Ford government continues to prove that they are incapable of managing the pandemic and keeping us all safe,” adds Hammond.

ETFO calls on the provincial government to:

  • focus on the hardest-hit regions;
  • prioritize vaccinations for education workers and all other essential workers;
  • implement temporary virtual learning in areas where numbers are increasing at alarming rates;
  • reduce class sizes to ensure two metres of physical distancing;
  • fund N95 masks, instead of medical masks, which do little to prevent aerosol spread;
  • fund improvements to ventilation and air filtration;
  • ensure broad uptake of COVID-19 testing;
  • implement paid sick leave; and
  • provide financial support for families who need it while lockdown measures are in effect.

“While elementary educators have shown incredible commitment during these difficult times, they must not continue to be put in situations where their safety and the safety of students is at high risk. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, all workers have the right to refuse work if they believe it to be unsafe,” notes Hammond.

Adds Hammond, “Teaching during a pandemic is incredibly challenging, and educators’ commitment has been unwavering. I want educators and other education workers to know that we see you, we hear you, and we will continue to do everything we can to stand against a government that has repeatedly failed you. Unsafe conditions, endless disruption and chaos for educators, students and their families must end.”

ETFO represents 83,000 elementary public school teachers, occasional teachers and education professionals across the province. Its Building Better Schools education agenda can be viewed at BuildingBetterSchools.ca.

To read the full statement, please click here.

Meanwhile, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) is also calling on the Ford government and public health units to immediately prioritize the vaccination of teachers, education workers, and other essential workers, particularly in hot spot public health units, and to move schools in these regions from in-person to virtual learning until this process is complete.

 

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