While the duties and responsibilities of this role can be found in the appropriate Job Descriptions, there is also another document titled “The Roles and Responsibilities of Teachers and Teacher Assistants/Education Assistants”.  This “Joint Paper” is a result of an ongoing commitment between CUPE and BCTF to establish a co-operative, and respectful working relationship for those staff who work hands on with special needs students and it is also a document that our Employer will reference when questions arise regarding expectations of these two parties in the workplace.

But nowhere in the Job Description, the Joint Paper, School District No.33 (Chilliwack) Policies, or the BC School Act, the BC Employment Standards Act, and any other piece of legislation could we find where it states that if you hold the title of an Education Assistant that you are expected to tolerate verbal abuse and violent attacks by students in the workplace.

If you or someone you work with has been told that “This is the job you signed up for” or “It’s part of your job, so deal with it” when you are reporting on workplace violence or expressing concerns over the inappropriate behaviour or conduct by a student, please contact an elected Union Representative immediately for assistance.  Your Union has never, and will never, condone this kind of mindset and if you find yourselves in a situation where prompt action is not being taken to protect yourself and/or your co-workers then we want to hear from you so that we can pursue a course of action on our members behalf.

It is also worth taking note of the role that the Ministry of Education plays within School Districts and some of the conditions that both the Ministry and the Districts are responsible for:

• Provision of adequate resources to maintain an appropriate learning environment.
• Availability of a suitable workspace to accommodate the learning activities of those working with students with special needs.
• Access to appropriate information regarding the student, the Individual Education Plan (IEP), as well as techniques and strategies necessary to carry out the respective responsibilities of each in relation to students’ programs.
• Provision of appropriate in-service on instructional and behavioural techniques and strategies.
• Adequate release time for members of the school-based team, and adequate time within the school day for members of the student-specific support team, including the teacher and the teacher assistants, to participate as required in the process of developing, implementing, and monitoring the IEP.

By not following the above can significantly contribute to a negative health and safety culture in the workplace and as such should be addressed at your sites monthly Joint Health & Safety Committee (JOHSC) meetings.  Please contact your CUPE JOHSC Rep and request that your concerns be placed on the Agenda at an upcoming meeting for both discussion and resolve.

In Solidarity