Rainbow 'pleased' with ruling that reopens schools

A press release issued by the Rainbow board late May 26 said schools will open and transportation will resume May 27.

Rainbow District School Board chair Doreen Dewar said the decision to file an application to the OLRB was not taken lightly.

“We maintained, from the outset, that our students and their families were caught in a dispute between OSSTF and the Province,” she said, in the press release.

“We are pleased with the OLRB ruling. The ruling will help to define what is central and what is local in this complex bargaining process.”

Chair Dewar thanked the OLRB for hearing the application and rendering a decision.

“We appreciate their consideration of our request. The lengthy deliberations and outcome certainly validate our concerns,” she said.

This decision of the OLRB provides the opportunity for our students to return to school tomorrow. We look forward to welcoming our students and teachers back to class.”

For its part, the OSSTF said it's disappointed by the Ontario Labour Relations Board decision.

“We will comply with the ruling of the OLRB and our members will be back at work tomorrow,” said OSSTF president Paul Elliott, in a May 26 press release.

“However, this ruling does not change the fact that our members have grown increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress at both the local and central bargaining tables. If these school boards had just made an honest effort to engage in meaningful negotiations at their local bargaining tables, there would have been no strike and no need for a hearing.

“We will be assessing all aspects of the OLRB ruling and its implications. However, this ruling will in no way impact our resolve to protect the working conditions of OSSTF/FEESO members and the learning conditions of our students. We will continue to work for fair collective agreements for OSSTF/FEESO members everywhere in the province.”

NorthernLife.ca will check in with local OSSTF officials later today for their reaction to the ruling.