Stop directing hate at P.E.I.'s front-line school staff, their union pleads

"Hateful" messages, harassment and verbal abuse directed toward front-line school staff on P.E.I. have the union that represents them calling for compassion and understanding from the public. 

The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents school administrative assistants and clerical staff on P.E.I. A local official says its members have seen an uptick in harassment recently, especially after a recent decision of the Public Schools Branch (PSB) to remove student memorials from schools — a decision that has since been put on hold. 

"Sometimes people feel that the person that answers the phone is the person that is responsible, which we are definitely not," said Tracy Campbell, president of CUPE local 1770 on P.E.I. 

"Staff is feeling really harassed in their community in some cases," Campbell said. "There's all kinds of examples where the person that answers the phone gets a lot of abuse, verbal, over decisions they have nothing to do with."

The PSB has now launched a survey for feedback on its proposed policy for memorials and grief support in schools, and Campbell urged concerned Islanders to direct their opinions there, rather than to school staff.

"Just fill the survey out and you can have your say," she said. 

'They still want to yell at you'

Campbell said people also sound off to staff about things like storm day cancellations. 

Front-line school staff being harassed when people don't like PSB decisions, union says

5 days ago

Duration 2:02

The union that represents administrative assistants and clerical staff in P.E.I. schools says they are being subjected to harassment and yelling over some Public School Branch decisions, on topics ranging from snow days to school-based memorials. The union wants people to make sure they are directing complaints and concerns to the right officials.

The verbal harassment is not new, she said, but she believes it's worse than before. 

"People seem to feel a little bit more free to comment things, to email things than they used to be," Campbell said. "As nicely as you try to say 'we don't make those decisions,' they still want to yell at you."  

Campbell said some people have even stopped school staff in grocery stores to question decisions made by schools or the schools branch. She acknowledges this behaviour is more common in a small province like P.E.I. where many people know one another. 

"People feel more open to stop you someplace in public and tell you how they feel," she said. 

"I just want you to remember that we are people. We feel for parents and guardians and sometimes things aren't right… We really care about our students especially."

A concern must be addressed at an appropriate time and place in a respectful manner.— Public Schools Branch procedure for voicing concerns

The Public Schools Branch has a procedure for voicing concerns, outlined on its website.

It asks people to make an appointment with the appropriate person, and lays out who that might be depending on the concern. 

"A concern must be addressed at an appropriate time and place in a respectful manner," the procedure says.

The PSB has issued a statement of support for CUPE members, calling for "respect and kindness toward front-line school staff. These professionals, who support students, families and staff with dedication and care, contribute greatly to our schools and, along with all staff, deserve to be treated with respect."