OSSTF/FEESO is embarking on an exciting new data collection project to examine potential disparities in employer discipline. Research on school discipline in Ontario (and elsewhere) demonstrates that suspensions and expulsions disproportionately affect students with disabilities, low income, 2SLGBTQI+ and students who are Black, Indigenous and/or racialized. In other sectors, such as policing or health care, employer discipline has also been shown to disproportionately affect members from equity-seeking groups. We would expect that similar patterns exist with regards to the education sector.
This project seeks to answer the following questions with regards to employer discipline:
- Are certain groups experiencing disproportionate levels of employer discipline?
- Are certain groups experiencing differences in the severity of consequences for the same type of allegations?
Currently, this project is in a pilot phase where selected bargaining units have agreed to participate. Members experiencing employer discipline who belong to the pilot bargaining units will be asked if they would like to fill out a short survey by e-mail. This survey is completely voluntary and will not have any effect on the outcomes of the disciplinary allegations. The online survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete.
It is our hope that every member experiencing discipline in the pilot bargaining units will fill out this survey as this data can be crucial in our efforts to better represent and protect our members.
Privacy and Confidentiality
We understand that members may feel uneasy about sharing personal information related to their identity. All data collected is confidential, analyzed anonymously and will be presented in aggregate form. No results with fewer than 10 responses will be reported. To aggregate data means to combine the data collected in a way that displays information in groups. It is a popular way to safeguard and protect personal information. For the purposes of this survey, if a category has less than five individuals, it will not be reported.
The survey responses are connected to the intake worksheet for the purposes of understanding the nature and severity of the allegations, the consequences handed out, and to examine patterns with relation to job class, years of employment and other relevant control factors. However, the ability to link a survey to an intake worksheet is only accessible to the Provincial OSSTF/FEESO Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator.
- The final data file that will be used for analysis that houses all the responses provided by participants will not have any identifiable information and specific responses cannot be linked to a particular individual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is OSSTF/FEESO collecting this data?
Collecting this data is crucial for a number of reasons. By filling out the survey, you will:
- strengthen the Federation’s ability to represent and support members;
- provide context for bargaining;
- help the Federation understand how members from particular demographic groups or job classes are impacted by employer discipline;
- better position provincial and local leaders to advocate for various strategies that will improve policies, procedures, and practices related to employer discipline;
- assist the Federation in improving institutional practices; and
- help examine and address systemic bias.
Who is being asked to complete the survey?
OSSTF/FEESO members who belong to the bargaining units selected to participate in the pilot project and who have experienced an incident of employer discipline are asked to complete this survey.
What am I being asked to do?
You are being asked to voluntarily complete a survey online. The survey would take less than 5 minutes to complete. By clicking “START SURVEY”, you are consenting to the collection and use of your partial and/or full responses. Any results will be aggregated so that individuals cannot be identified, and their anonymity is preserved.
Do I have to complete the survey? What happens if I do not complete it?
Despite how crucial this survey is for OSSTF/FEESO in understanding potential disparities in employer discipline, the survey is completely voluntary. Additionally, every question on the survey is optional and you can skip any question that you do not want to answer. There are no consequences for not taking part in the survey. Your response to the survey has no bearing on your disciplinary incident.
What questions are being asked in the survey?
The survey asks about your demographic characteristics including your gender, race, language, disability, religion and more.
Am I being compensated for filling out the survey?
While your participation in this project is very valuable, you will not be compensated for participating in this study.
What happens with the survey responses and results?
The survey data file for analysis does not contain any identifiable information and will be housed with the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at the OSSTF/FEESO Provincial Office. The results will only be presented at an aggregate level. To aggregate data means to combine the data collected in a way that displays information in groups. It is a popular way to safeguard and protect personal information. For the purposes of this survey, no results with fewer than 10 responses will be reported.
How will sharing my information impact me personally?
Sharing your demographic and job information with OSSTF/FEESO through this survey will not impact your disciplinary incident or your relationship with the Federation or your employer. The only individual who can link individuals to their intake worksheet is the OSSTF/FEESO Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator. If you have any questions or concerns about the privacy of your data, please contact selfidsurvey@osstf.ca.
What is an intake worksheet?
When a member calls their bargaining unit to report a disciplinary incident, an intake worksheet will be created where notes on the conversation are recorded. These could include: a description of the incident, the allegations, any documents or emails from the employer or between the union and the member related to the incident, and any updates to the file as it progresses.
Why is this survey confidential but not anonymous?
A survey is considered anonymous if the individual’s responses or results cannot be linked to their identity in any way. However, as mentioned in the section on privacy and confidentiality, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator can link a response to an intake worksheet for the purpose of gathering more information and discerning patterns with regards to the nature and severity of the allegations, the consequences that were given out and other control factors.
However, it is important to note that the actual final data file prepared for analysis will be anonymous and at this point individual responses will not be linked to the intake worksheet.
I did not receive the survey. What do I do?
There may be a number of reasons why you did not receive the survey. This project only looks at disciplinary incidents and therefore you may have not indicated that your incident was disciplinary in nature. You also would not have received a survey if your Bargaining Unit is not part of the pilot project. If you feel that your incident was disciplinary in nature and your Bargaining Unit is part of the pilot project and you did not receive the survey, your local bargaining unit may not have your most recent e-mail address on file. Please contact your bargaining unit to update your contact information and have the survey re-sent to you.
Contact us
If you have any questions or concerns about the survey content or need technical assistance on how to complete the survey, please contact selfidsurvey@osstf.ca. If you have questions regarding your disciplinary incident, please contact your local bargaining unit.