Whistleblower policy urgently needed to protect vulnerable staff, says Hamilton teachers’ union

The Hamilton public elementary teachers' union and a teacher with the public school board are pushing for a board-wide whistleblower policy that protects those who speak out - in policy and in practice.

Jeff Sorensen and Cindy Gangaram, of the Hamilton Wentworth Elementary Teachers' Local, and Parsa Shahid, a teacher, spoke of the need for a robust whistleblower policy that protects vulnerable employees at a Wednesday evening Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) policy committee meeting.

The HWDSB has previously committed to creating a whistleblower policy. What it will look like is not yet clear. A draft policy is expected this winter, with a final policy expected by fall 2022.

Whistleblower policies ... are for employees who believe something in their workplace is wrong and don't believe that they have a safe and effective means of reporting the problem through an institution's internal reporting processes," Sorensen said.

He said workers should not be punished for shining a spotlight on workplace problems. The current processes fall short" he said, calling hierarchical institutions such as school boards inherently defensive and conservative," seeking to avoid criticism and maintain the status quo.

Sorensen raised recent board controversies brought to light by whistleblowers.

The presence of embedded racism, the pervasiveness of bullying, the inequity of the dress code ... all brought to light by individuals stepping outside of the board's internal processes," he said.

Shahid, who is also the mother of Ahona Mehdi, the former student trustee whose claims of racism at the trustee level were largely backed up by a third-party report, said there is a desperate need" for a whistleblower policy at the HWDSB.

Shahid said she has asked her colleagues if a whistleblower policy would have benefited them during their time with the board.

The response was overwhelming," she said, noting 31 colleagues shared their stories with her, though almost all requested anonymity.

Stories included: racialized employees being told their appearance - hair and cultural attire - was not professional; teachers who said they were ignored when advocating on behalf of disabled students; and those who said they were forced to choose between career advancement and maternity leave.

Trustee Becky Buck called the testimony moving" and sobering." Trustee and vice-chair Cam Galindo said all institutions should have a whistleblower policy, calling it socially responsible.

A public consultation on the whistleblower policy is expected to run from March 7 to April 1, 2022.

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com