Teachers' Union Fighting For Right To Refuse Work Due Where Students Violent

A student’s violent acts in a classroom have led to a dispute about the circumstances in which teachers may engage in a work refusal for safety reasons.

The student was described as having a “history of violent behavior”. He became violent one morning by hitting and pushing staff and other students and kicking chairs. The student was sent home, but when he returned to class, the teacher said that she did not feel safe and she was removed from the classroom. Apparently a Ministry of Labour inspector was called in and decided not to make an order respecting the teacher’s alleged work refusal. The union challenged that decision before the Ontario Labour Relations Board. The inspector asked the OLRB to dismiss the case based on oral submissions.