WORTH KNOWING Duty-Free Lunch
Although COVID-19 safety protocols include altered supervision assignments, staggered break times for students and changes to the school bell schedule, the provision for a rest period under the 2018–20 central collective agreement (clause 8.3, Duty-Free Lunch) remains.
The school division must schedule a 30-minute rest period for each teacher during each five hours the teacher works. When reasonable, the break should be scheduled in the middle of the teacher’s assignment. If, for some reason, an unbroken rest period of 30 minutes cannot be scheduled, a teacher must agree to two rest periods of no less than 15 minutes each. This is an individual agreement between the school division and the teacher. This does not mean that rest periods can be shortened without written individual agreement or that breaks must be requested by teachers. Further, under no circumstances can there be less than two 15-minute breaks.
Alberta’s Labour Relations Code states that a collective agreement is binding on the parties named in the agreement. A school division cannot alter the provisions of the collective agreement, nor can teachers accept conditions outside of the collective agreement. A school authority must schedule each teacher’s timetable to ensure that the teacher has rest periods that adhere to the collective agreement. Supervision and rest periods must be scheduled by the school authority, not created through sign-up sheets completed by teachers. Further, teachers cannot opt out of time caps or waive their right to a 30-minute rest period.
WORTH SHARING
Although COVID-19 has changed many aspects of public education in Alberta, the provisions in your collective agreement remain in effect. You have a right to a 30-minute rest period.
#WEAREATA