Regina teachers with concerns about COVID seek safe work advice, vaccinations

Going back into schools this week had some Regina teachers concerned, but only a few have taken the step to refuse work.

When contacted earlier this week, neither Regina’s public nor Catholic division could give numbers on how many absences there were related to safety concerns.

The public division said there were some absences, but all schools were operating as expected. The Catholic division said it was able to comfortably cover all absences.

On Monday, Regina students were able to return to school after learning remotely since late March. The decision to return to in-person learning has been questioned by some. A petition had been circulating calling for online learning to continue until school staff have been vaccinated.

Jeff Perry, the president of the Regina Public Schools Teachers’ Association, said he got a lot of calls last week from worried teachers who were wondering about their health situation and some were asking about refusing work they felt is unsafe. He explained the process involved.

“Each school has an individual (Occupational Health and Safety) committee and the complaint has to go there first,” said Perry.

“Then it has to be ruled by that committee as an unsafe environment before it is referred to OHS officers.”

Perry said he knows of a couple of instances where the committees have developed changes at the school level in response to teachers bringing forward concerns.

For example, there have been changes to lunchrooms where students eat unmasked and there are more classes being held outside.

As of Monday, Occupational Health and Safety said it has had one case of an employee refusing unsafe work at a school.

Perry said many teachers’ worries aren’t brand new. He explains the public health recommendations are sometimes difficult to follow in schools. For example, it can be tough to get kids to keep their masks on all the time and staying six feet away from students, especially the young ones, isn’t always possible.

“It’s pretty hard to look at their work from six feet away and make a connection and try to help them to learn what they’ve done wrong or show them how to do it right,” said Perry.

Often, the teachers who are concerned know of someone who caught the virus.

“Virtually every one of our schools has had a case this year, so it brings it a little bit closer to home when you know someone,” said Perry.

“Three of our teachers have long-term effects from COVID and have been unable to work, and we know of others who have been hospitalized.”

While teachers and school staff who work directly with students are now eligible to be vaccinated, not all have had an opportunity to receive their first shot. Regina appointments were already filled when teachers became eligible, so the drive-through on Sunday was the only option available to teachers before school started Monday.

Perry said many teachers got in line on Sunday and others will likely get their shot as soon as one is available to them.

“We’re hearing pretty much as soon as they’re eligible, they’re gone,” said Perry.

Perry said getting the vaccine is helping teachers who are worried.