McMaster employees’ union local, students in Hamilton say school taking COVID-19 risks with in-person classes plan

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Published February 4, 2022 at 11:12 pm

A union local that represents McMaster University employees has issued a public open letter to the Hamilton institution, ahead of the Hamilton institution’s resumption of in-person learning on Monday.

A petition started by concerned students also shows that many who are immunocompromised are dealing with heightened anxiety about having to return to campus. Hospitalizations and intensive-care-unit admissions due to COVID-19 and the Omicron variant are declining in Ontario, but the province still had close to 1,600 deaths last month linked with the virus that has driven the pandemic.

McMaster is hosting a GO-VAXX mobile vaccination clinic on campus on Thursday.

In the open letter, Canadian Union of Public Employees local 3906 said that McMaster’s plan for in-person classes stands in “stark contrast” to Hamilton’s Mohawk College. Mohawk is remaining in online and virtual formats for the rest of the term. The 3906’s executive committee said it needs to see a health and safety plan from McMaster.

“While we believe that a focus on in-person delivery is pedagogically sound and in the best interest of staff and students alike, doing so at the risk of staff and students is dangerous,” they write. “Ontario has had one of its deadliest pandemic months in January and the situation is only expected to worsen. Universities have already been exempted from distancing and capacity limits in teaching and learning spaces, meaning that rooms have the potential to be just as over-crowded as they were pre-pandemic.

“While dangerous and almost uncontrollable hazards such as Omicron exist, the Employer should limit hazards to workers and students by minimizing on-campus activities where safer alternatives exist. When workers and students are required to be on campus, safety standards that go above and beyond minimum standards should be in effect. Workers who are not willing to face the risk should be offered virtual appointments.”

The union local’s general suggestions for their employer include:

  • Providing mandatory N95, KN95 or KF94 masks, which have shown to be more effective at limiting airborne transmission of COVID-19 droplets than cloth masksr.
  • Providing freely available and accessible rapid tests for all staff and students to ensure maximum safety when coming to campus
    Strengthening the distancing and capacity limits beyond the “bare minimum” drafted by the provincial government
  • A reporting and tracing system of all confirmed COVID cases on campus, that includes contacting staff and students about known cases and their location, rather than posting online.
  • Offering “easy access” for students and staff to view outdoor air supply, air filtration and ventilation quality in each room.

Meantime, anonymized comments from a petition to maintain online learning options suggests many students are afraid of the risks and health outcomes of a full reopening of campus.

McMaster professors and local activists are also holding a virtual panel discussion at 6 p.m. on Monday evening (Feb. 7) to discuss concerns about the university’s plan.

McMaster has a two-dose requirement and is encouraging third doses. The vaccines on the market have proven to be highly effective, if not 100 per cent effective.

Hospital network CEO: ‘Too much COVID and not enough beds’

The return comes while Hamilton is far from being out of the worst of the fifth wave. On Thursday (Feb. 3), Hamilton Hospital Sciences CEO and President Rob MacIsaac wrote a Twitter thread explaining that the hospital network remains stretched. He also acknowledged Hamilton had to send over 20 critically ill patients to London and Toronto-area hospitals in January.”

“There’s too much COVID and not enough beds,” MacIsaac said. “In January, 21 critically ill patients from our region were sent to hospitals in the GTA and London areas. Experts tell us this pandemic is not over.

“Hamilton hospitals are still seeing large numbers of very sick COVID patients. These are our neighbours. Our colleagues. Our family. The only way out is less infection.

“We all feel done with COVID but unfortunately, the virus doesn’t care. Please, get all 3 vaccinations, continue to wear a good mask and choose the safest options for seeing other people including outdoor activities. Let’s get the virus under control in our community.”

Students sound off

A sampling of student concerns, some of which are edited for clarity, includes:

  • “I am a full time student working part time at a long term care home. This week, two of our residents died from COVID who were fully vaccinated. We have been in outbreak for a month with multiple staff sick and I worry that I may get sick and have to miss school and miss out on the education I’m paying for.”
  • “I am immunocompromised and have submitted the medical documentation to SAS (McMaster Student Accessibility Services).  Despite this, the solution that has been provided by the instructor is to meet for 15 minutes once per week for a seminar course.  So much for actually participating in the class, or getting any of the information …  I feel that I don’t matter, neither my health nor my education matter.”
  • “Forcing students to go in person at this point  in time is unsafe and unfair and driven by politics and greed. It is shameful to compromise any of these students and professors and comes from ill informed leadership. The proposed two meters in the halls vs. no social distancing in lecture halls and libraries is ridiculous and goes against public health guidelines.”
  • “As someone who is struggling to balance the many different responsibilities of being a student as well as a healthcare worker and a parent of children with unpredictable access to school in the middle of a global pandemic, the secure option of virtual access to education is a necessity.”
  • “February 7 is WAY too early. The earliest a lot of my friends have their booster shots booked is mid February.”
  • “A level headed decision would be to delay in-person until beginning of March. The COVID modelling shows that we will peak in mid-to-late February.”
  • “I live with my parents and grandfather, I don’t want to go to classes in-person and bring covid back to them.”
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