TDSB Closing Schools Until April 5 in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic.

March 13, 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education announced on March 12, 2020 that all publicly funded schools in Ontario are closed until April 5, 2020. This includes all TDSB schools.
The decision to close schools province-wide was made to best ensure the health and safety of all students, staff, and families.
Members are not to report to work during the closure.
The Board has informed ETT that it expects all teachers to remain in the region (not out of country), with adequate access to communication, for the period of the closure.

Salary, Benefits, and Pension Contributions

ETT members will continue to receive their regular pay from the TDSB during the two week period in which schools are closed.
Members on a paid leave or statutory leave (e.g., a maternity leave) will continue to be paid.
The TDSB will also continue to make its contributions to the ETFO Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT) Benefits Plan and the OTPP Pension Plan for the duration of the closure.

Extended School Year

The Ministry of Education has not made a decision as to whether this closure will extend the school year.
ETT will update members as soon as we receive any additional information regarding this issue. ETFO is reviewing the legal and collective agreement implications of extending the school year into the summer months.

ETT Office to Remain Active to Serve Members

In order to serve our members, the ETT Office will remain active during the two week period in which schools will be closed.
During this period, ETT Executive Officers will continue to respond to members’ inquiries and issues remotely.
Please be advised that we will be limiting access to the physical ETT Office space at 4211 Yonge Street. Members should direct all issues by phone or email to their Executive Officer. Members are asked not to come to the ETT Office at 4211 Yonge Street.

ETT Events and Activities

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to ensure the health and safety of our members, all ETT activities, events, and meetings have been postponed and will be rescheduled.
Members will be notified by email of the new dates, and, if necessary, registration timelines. Please stay tuned to ETT email communications and to the ETT website.
New timelines for the ETT Executive Elections 2020 will be provided if deemed necessary.

$15 and Fairness Campaign: Outbreak Highlights Need to Reinstate Paid Sick Days, End Sick Notes

The COVID-19 pandemic shines a powerful light on how reliant we are on each other and how important it is to take care of each other.
Elementary teachers know that our students, their parents and families, and our broader communities who are already marginalized, will experience even greater struggle and vulnerability than they already do in this unprecedented time.
The Ford government’s cancellation of the paid sick days guarantee for all workers, as well as cuts to income supports and health care, places all of us, but especially our most vulnerable communities, at greater risk.
We see with such clarity the truth of the statement: “an injury to one is an injury to all.”
We join with the $15 and Fairness Campaign, as well as with all of our communities, in demanding that this government take care of all of us by:

Providing at least seven paid sick days for all workers now.
Ending doctor’s notes for workers accessing their emergency leave under the Employment Standards Act.
Creating a non-repayable emergency fund for workers who can’t access EI supports and who are experiencing a loss or interruption of earnings, either directly or directly as a result of COVID-19.

Visit the $15 and Fairness website to see how to take action.