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When schools are closed due to inclement weather, do teachers need to report to work if an activity (e.g. professional development) had already been planned? 

According to Article 16.03 (a), if schools are closed due to inclement weather and an activity was scheduled for that day, teachers are not required to report to the activity no matter where it was to take place. 

Note : In the new Collective Agreement, there is a letter of agreement that allows for current practice to continue during the 2023-2024 school year. However, the parties will discuss possible alternatives with regards to days on which there is inclement weather and the expectations of teachers. The NBTF will inform its members of all changes that may arise. 

What is the situation for a teacher who is on leave when schools are closed due to inclement weather? 

The NBTF and the Employer have agreed on an interpretation for a teacher who is on sick leave at a time when the school is closed because of inclement weather.



If a teacher requested a sick day because of an illness or an injury, but schools were closed due to inclement weather, a sick leave day would be deducted. However, if a teacher was approved a sick day for a medical appointment on a storm day, they will not be deducted a sick leave day as agreed by EECD in June 2017 in the settlement of the Absence Management Program Grievance.


For any teacher who is on sick leave both on the day before and on the day after a storm day, it is assumed that the teacher would not have been at work on the storm day. That day will then be deducted from the teacher’s accumulated sick leave.

What about other situations where a teacher had already requested a leave?

If a school closure occurs on a day where a teacher was approved for paid leave (such as Educational Leave, Personal Day, Bereavement Leave, Pre-Retirement day), the absence cannot be modified unless there are exceptional circumstances.



For teachers who had requested a leave without pay, it is expected that the day would not be paid. In such case, the Employer would have already accepted to grant a leave but the condition at the outset was that it would be without pay.



Essentially, a storm day cannot provide a greater financial benefit to the teacher than if the school closure had not occurred.

Are substitute teachers paid during a storm day?

Article 61.08 indicates that a substitute teacher who teaches more than ten (10) consecutive teaching days in the same assignment in a school that is closed due to a storm will be paid for that storm day in accordance with Article 16.02 of the Collective Agreement provided that the storm day occurs during the assignment.



For other questions related to this subject, please contact an NBTF staff officer by email at nbtf-fenb@nbtffenb.ca or by telephone at 1-888-679-7044.