BCTF Job Action Bulletin No. 2: Report Cards

[Nov 8, 2011 10:08 AM]

As the BCTF Phase 1 teach only job action continues, CUPE is providing information to members about support staff work as it relates to this job action. CUPE is in regular contact with the BCTF to ensure strong coordination around this job action. CUPE and the BCTF agree that our members should not perform struck work.

The Ministry of Education has recently written to Boards of Education instructed Superintendents to ensure report cards are completed and given to students. The Ministry bulletin reads: "If teachers refuse to produce report cards the statutory obligation remains for administrators."

Preparing report cards is struck work. CUPE members should not perform this work unless this work was part of their regular duties in the last school year.

In the event you are asked to assist with report cards AND you have not performed this work in the past, please contact your local union immediately.

CUPE and BCTF agree that CUPE members should not perform any of the duties normally perfomed by teachers deemed non-essential by the Labour Relations Board, unless these duties are part of a CUPE member's normal work duties. Where CUPE members' administrative duties overlap with duties deemed non-essential by the Board, CUPE members should continue to perform their normal duties, but should not increase the work they perform in order to make up for work not being performed by BCTF members.

To recap, the non-essential duties are as follows:

• Participate in meetings or interviews with parents/guardians and /or District teaching staff outside of instructional time, or during instructional time unless coverage is provided.
• Participate in meet the teacher activities outside of instructional time, or during instructional time unless coverage is provided.
• Prepare or distribute report cards.
• Provide any student assessment data to Administrative Officers or the school office except Grade 12 marks required for graduation, post-secondary applications and scholarship purposes.
• Complete and submit student referral forms outside of instructional time.
• Attend staff meetings.
• Attend staff committee meetings.
• Attend any meeting called by School District Management.
• Participate in any standing or ad hoc District Committees.
• Attend school based meetings called by an Administrative Officer, unless the meetings are related to an emergency.
• Provide Administrative Officers with any routine printed, written or electronic communications.
• Accept any printed, written or electronic communication from an Administrative Officer, unless it relates to an emergency.
• Participate in the preparation or organization of assemblies outside of instructional time, or during instruction time unless coverage is provided.
• Participate in any accreditation activity.
• Participate in any School District or Ministry in-service.
• Participate in any professional development that is not teacher directed.
• Participate in any school photo organization.
• Provide coverage for a teacher who is absent, except for a Teacher on Call hired specifically for that purpose (consistent with principles B421/2001 and B444/2001).
• Administer or supervise FSA or any District or Ministry test (consistent with principle in B418/2001).
• Collect money from students or participate in fund raising.
• Order supplies, textbooks, etc., unless needed immediately to effectively maintain ongoing instruction.
• Assist the Administrative Officer in administrative tasks like building timetables or computer organization.
• Do inventory.
• Organize textbooks.
• Answer school office phones.
• Supervise detentions before, or during or after instructional time.
• Prepare overviews or previews for the Administrative Officer, except when associated with a teacher evaluation process.
• Distribute School District or administrative letters, newsletters, memos or announcements to students, unless it is health and safety related.
• Pack up classrooms to facillitate painting, renovations or maintenance.
• Perform department head/position of responsibility duties except during allocated time in the timetable.