Fanshawe faculty union files grievance to bring masks back indoors
The union representing Fanshawe College faculty has filed a grievance with the school over its masking policy.
"Fanshawe's abandonment of indoor masking, social distancing, and many other preventative measures has created an unsafe work environment," says the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 110 in a media release.
The union did not make a representative available for an interview, but according to the release, it has heard from numerous members concerned for their own health and safety, as well as their family members.
It is Fanshawe's first full school year without COVID-19 measures since the pandemic began, which is in line with most other post-secondary schools in the province. However, Western University has maintained its mandatory masking policy, as well as requiring at least one COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.
"It doesn't make a difference to me, honestly," says Miquel Balles, a Fanshawe student. "It's a personal choice at the end of the day."
"A year or two ago I would have been masked," says student Sam Munday. "I think everyone has gotten it, I've gotten it. I tried to avoid it for a long time and now I'm not as worried as I was.
Fanshawe did not make a representative available for an interview either, but says in a statement the school is "following all provincial guidelines related to health and safety on campus."
The college has not reinstated mandatory masking or vaccine requirements "based on ongoing and regular discussions with local public health authorities."
Fanshawe says it is scheduling a hearing with the union shortly to discuss the grievance.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
NEW More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Polar ice is melting and changing Earth's rotation. It's messing with time itself
One day in the next couple of years, everyone in the world will lose a second of their time. Exactly when that will happen is being influenced by humans, according to a new study, as melting polar ice alters the Earth’s rotation and changes time itself.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.