Catholic board absenteeism costs millions

An absenteeism problem at the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board is out of control and costing the board millions, according to trustees.

Workers are taking so many sick days, it's having a negative impact on the budget at a time when the board is trying to wipe out a $2.5-million deficit. That's approximately how much extra it's costing the board to pay substitute teachers and other fill-in staff to cover for the sick time.

"We have a serious problem here with our deficit, and we're working hard to eradicate it, and here's one more piece of the puzzle that we need to look at," said Barb Holland, chair of the Catholic school board.

Under the current contracts, board employees are allowed 20 days of paid sick leave each year. The average board employee is taking 11, but that's almost twice the national average of six, according to Statistics Canada.

The school board's janitors and skilled trades employees lead the way. They take almost 16 days off a year, on average Educational assistants take 15 and elementary school teachers are off 11.

Bruce Dickie, president of a CAW local representing janitors and skilled trades workers, said the numbers aren't that high given the place of employment.

"The reason for sick leave benefits is because they are exposed to many things that normal workplaces aren't and that would increase their level of illness," he said. "Certainly, our people would be exposed to many illnesses."

The board expects the unions to co-operate in reducing absenteeism costs during negotiations later in the year.

If they don't, some officials warn there may be a labour disruption.

"We're hoping that we can work with our unions, to ensure that, moving forward for the next fiscal year, we don't have this same problem that we have right now," board strategic planning administrator Al Maghnieh said. "If we can come to an agreement this summer, that would be great, because students, at the end of the day, pay a price for this."

Board administration has prepared a study on absenteeism which trustees will tackle Tuesday night.