SEIU-West has reviewed the province’s return to school plan and has identified what it describes as further gaps and issues that may put the health and safety of workers and families at risk in areas with some of the province’s highest rates of COVID-19. The union represents school bus drivers, educational assistants, janitorial and maintenance staff, and other classifications in the South East Cornerstone and Chinook public school divisions as well as the Holy Family Catholic Division.

Of particular concern is what the union calls, “vague and inconsistent guidelines,” for bus drivers, expecting them to enforce a strict seating plan, but unclear on whether or not they are to assess the health of children on pickup. The plan gives drivers increased responsibility for sanitizing their buses, but only one division’s plan acknowledges that this will require extra time, training and resources.

SEIU-West President Barbara Cape says, “Our members are also wondering about additional staff to manage the increased cleaning and enhanced protocols.”