Continuing Education Instructors' Bargaining Unit Newsletter:

Volume 1, Issue 2: October 29, 2002

President’s Message

Please keep the following dates in mind if you are planning a leave or planning to apply for a position in the secondary or elementary panel:

November 1:

Article 11.02 "For long term leaves of absence, such written request shall be submitted by March 31^st for a leave commencing between September 01 - December 31, or by November 1^st for a leave commencing between January 01 - August 31. Under exceptional circumstances, the application deadline may be waived by the Employer."

January 1:

Article 8:08 "Subject to the other legal obligations of the Board, qualified Continuing Education Instructors who have applied to teach (which presently requires registration with ATTN) in the elementary and/or secondary panels and have notified their supervisor in writing on or before January 01 of each year of their desire to be hired to a contract teaching position, will be given due consideration for such positions before outside hiring."

The TVDSB advertises all available teaching positions on the Apply To Teach Network. A $40 registration fee (good for 12 months) is required.

Recertification

Teachers who received a letter from the College in early July advising them that their Professional Learning Program begins in September should continue to do NOTHING. Make sure that no course results are sent to the College.

In the meantime, please ensure that you keep careful track of all courses and professional development that you have taken. This includes the type of course, its duration, and who offered it. These records should be precise and include ALL AQ courses and PD in which you partake.

OMERS

A reminder that some of you may choose to join the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System. This is possible only if, during EACH of the TWO preceding years you:

Pay Equity Committee Update

The Pay Equity Committee meets again with Lenore Alexander on November 18^th.

Hopefully following that meeting I will have something to report!

Payroll

There was some confusion last month when some instructors did not receive their pay stubs in the mail.

The pay stubs are now being sent by mailbag, and no longer being delivered by postal service. They will be distributed at your place of employment. If the Board mailbag does not go to your site, you will continue to receive it through the mail.

A reminder to the Counties: OSSTF dues should now be deducted from your pay.

PLEASE, ALWAYS REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR STUB FOR THE CORRECT DEDUCTIONS!

Collective Bargaining Committee Update

So far, no one has called me (Barb O’Brien) to volunteer their services on the bargaining committee.

Come January, I would like to see a survey drafted to see what sorts of things are most important to our membership for the next round of bargaining. Believe it or not, this is a fun committee, and I certainly need input from the membership to make our bargaining work. 

Call me at work (686-1922 Ext. 225) if you are interested.

Police Checks

The process for collecting criminal background checks for all staff hired before January 1,1999 is expected to begin soon. It will require each member to authorize a criminal background check to be done. The check will be done through the Ontario Education Services Corporation, an independent agency. The agency will advise members if any convictions are found. This allows the member to detect errors and correct them before the report goes to the Board. You may opt out of this process, but you then become responsible yourself for providing the Board with the police check. Most police agencies charge a fee for this service, and that too would be your responsibility. With this in mind, OSSTF is recommending that you sign the consent and allow the agency to administer the process.

Once your police check is done, you must submit an annual "Offence Declaration Form".

EAP-Employee Assistance Program

This program is available for all Board employees. Confidential, professional help and referral are available in such areas as:

The major cost of the EAP program is paid for by the TVDSB There is no cost for the initial assessment appointment. Employees are expected to share in the cost of subsequent appointments.

You can contact our EAP by calling 663-9524 in London or, outside London, 1-800-263-6817.

District Committees Need Members

District 11 has several committees which need representation from all of the bargaining units. Please consider joining one of the following committees.

OSSTF Certification Rating Statements

Continuing Education Instructors who have an Ontario Teacher’s Certificate of Qualification and who are considering a move to the secondary panel may apply now to obtain an OSSTF Certification Rating Statement (CRS) used for salary placement in the secondary panel. There is no cost for this service. Call Wendy Hirschegger at the District Office for more information.

Marion Drysdale Contest

The Marion Drysdale contest is a writing and creative arts competition which is open to all public secondary school students in Ontario. There are 6 writing categories (including one for Adult Learners) and 3 creative categories. Each school or workplace may submit ONE entry per category to the district office for judging at the district level; the entry deadline is November 22.

Let us not take thought for our separate interests, but let us help one another.
(OSSTF Motto)

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