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Star Exclusive

Ontario’s labour ministry has rejected all teachers’ COVID-19 work refusals — and almost everyone else’s. Internal memos hint at why

During the pandemic, of the 44 work refusals filed in the education sector to date, none have been accepted, according to ministry data obtained by the Star. And just eight of 482 work refusals across the province have been accepted.

7 min to read
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littlewood

Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, is concerned about workplace safety as kids return to school in September.

Four days after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, Ontario’s team of health and safety inspectors received a lengthy document outlining how to enforce workplace laws in a once-in-a-generation crisis.

Marked confidential, the March 15, 2020, document provided guidance to health and safety inspectors on a range of issues: masking requirements, occupational illness reporting, and whether pregnant employees should continue working.

Sara Mojtehedzadeh

Sara Mojtehedzadeh is a Toronto-based reporter covering work and wealth on the Star’s investigations team. Follow her on Twitter: @saramojtehedz.

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