Continuing Education Instructors' Bargaining Unit Newsletter:

Volume 1, Issue 5: June 6, 2003

President’s Message

We’re on the last leg of our journey for this year, and quite a year it’s been! We’ve ironed out some of the problems with our contract, and discovered some new ones! All in all it’s been a busy year and I’m sure you will take advantage of the summer to rest and recuperate.

Thank-you for putting your faith in me and re-electing me as your president. This has been a learning year for me, and I just now am starting to feel a little more comfortable in the position. I will do my best to work in your best interest. Please don’t hesitate to call me at any time. I can no longer be reached at work, so it’s best to contact me through the District Office.

Our new executive is as follows:

Employment Insurance

I attended a workshop regarding EI in Toronto in April. It was most informative, as it was conducted by an EI representative. You shouldn’t have problems with your summer benefits. If you do, please call me and we’ll try to sort it out together. Very soon you will be able to apply for benefits on-line, and the process will be much easier as all your information will be held in the EI database.

Retirees

This year, four of our members are retiring: Barb Forsdike, Judy Fowler, Arnette Gardiner and Marg Sharzer. The membership wishes them all a long and relaxing retirement. It’s the time to enjoy yourself and pursue some of those interests you’ve never had time for…..have fun!

Collective Bargaining

A survey has been distributed to all of you regarding the next contract. It would be greatly appreciated if you could fax those in to the District Office, or put them in Linda Huber’s mail slot at Wheable. This will expedite our work in the upcoming months to get a brief together.

Mutual Concerns and Staffing Committees

Each of these committees has 3 members. There will be 1 executive person on each committee, and 2 persons from the general membership on each committee. If you are interested in sitting on one of these committees, please email me. You will be advised hopefully by the end of the school year, as the staffing committee meets before school begins in September.

Leaves

Requests for short term leaves (ie up to two weeks) should be in writing to the principal, not your immediate supervisor, and a copy of the letter must also be forwarded to me at the District Office. If you have difficulty in obtaining approval for the leave, it is easier for me to be of help if I have a record of the request on file already.

District President’s Message

Politically, although the Tory leadership has changed, their policies have not. Teachers and education workers continue to be under attack by a government intent on privatization. Defeating the Tories is essential to maintain and improve our working conditions and jobs. The government is delaying calling an election as their public support remains at all time lows. Should they be so bold as to call a summer election, we must be ready! Your Political Action Committee is committed to coordinating our election efforts even if it is during the summer months.

The District Website is updated daily. I encourage you to use it as a source of information about both District and Provincial issues.

Finally, take time to enjoy the summer; you deserve it!

Election Delayed

The calling of the provincial election (called ‘dropping the writ’, or in the tories’ case now called ‘dropping the ball’) has been delayed once again. The tories continue to be down in the polls, but wish you to know that that is not why they are delaying the election call, rather it is because they are a sensitive government and recognize their responsibility to help with the recent SARS outbreak. Health care-one of their strengths! So it is delayed again. What the tories really appear to be delaying is the inevitable–their election defeat.

A June election is not now possible and while a summer election is a possibility, they have rarely been called. However, if you are capable of ignoring democracy itself by moving for the first time ever a budget release to a car plant and not even inviting the elected members of the house, you are assuredly capable of calling a summer election.

A more likely scenario would be after the summer, though, perhaps a Thursday in September. But if the Tories are awaiting better polls in order to call the election, September may not be good for them, either, as Ipperwash will be back in the news at that time, as it should be. They continue to stumble from one mistake to another, but you must remember that they will also continue to use (read ‘abuse’) teachers and educational workers at every opportunity.

The tories can stall an election all they want but we will keep our eye on the ball, and when this election is called, teachers and educational workers will show up to a person to vote.

Ontario’s Public Education system can be restored. All it takes is a change in government. If you care about education, our message to you is simple–when the election is finally called, remember to get out and vote (at the advance polls if possible), and take someone with you so they can vote too

PC Party Platform

"The Road Ahead" platform contains eighteen policy papers that are available on the Ontario PC website.

Eves is proposing banning teacher and educational worker strikes except, possibly, in the Summer. Currently, Bill 28 is before the house and contains a new definition of strike. This government continues to show complete disdain for the collective bargaining process. There are vague references to a new arbitration model and caps on settlements as the arbitrator would consider the Board’s ability to pay.

There is pandering to the quality education groups through promises to enforce the teaching of phonics and, in response to any parental concerns, promises of provincial inspectors who will "drop into classrooms unannounced to evaluate teacher performance". The idea of school report cards has surfaced again.

The government will speed up the schedule for the private school tax credit. The promise to allow seniors to avoid paying education taxes is divisive and destroys the concept of universality and is coming under increasing attack as it is understood by the public.

Polling showed the Tories could gain massively by promising to allow Ontarians deduction of the interest on mortgage payments. Many people are unaware that this can only be accomplished if one’s principal residence becomes a capital gain as it is in the US and will now be frustrated that it is capped at $500 and will be phased in over a number of years. Ernie claims it’ll cost $700 million but TD Bank claims a $4 billion cost and "there is no rationale for mortgage deductability".

Eves maintains the government will find money through "efficiencies" and tax cuts (read more cuts to education, health and public services).

It is very clear that the provincial election will be critical to the working future of every teacher and educational worker. It will be a challenge, as critical as any this union has ever faced! Everyone must plan to do his part. If the election is called during the summer, watch for critical information mailed directly to your homes. Please advise our office of any address changes.

Have a safe and happy summer;
I look forward to reconnecting with you in September!

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

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