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OSSTF District 11- Thames Valley
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District 11 Office |
Continuing Education Instructors' Bargaining Unit Newsletter:
Volume 2, Issue 3: January 26, 2004
Table of ContentsPlease click on any of the items in the Table of Contents to go to that item. |
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President’s Message
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Bishop Townshend Award
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President's Message
The winter blahs have set in….and I’m certain the snow hasn’t helped much. However, it does keep us in shape, whether in recreation or shovelling. Being raised in the far north, I love the freshness of new fallen snow. Not only that, but the days are beginning to get longer, and before we know it, it will be spring!
Several issues have been brought forward lately and so this newsletter will primarily address those.
Mutual Concerns and Staffing Meetings
I thought it might be useful to explain what happens at the joint board/union Staffing meetings and Mutual Concerns meetings.
Staffing meetings are to ensure that everyone receives their entitlement according to Article 16.02 of the collective agreement. So far, these meetings have run very smoothly. If there were an issue at the staffing meeting, it would be forwarded to the Mutual Concerns committee.
Before each Mutual Concerns, agenda items are forwarded to Beth Strong by myself, Sheila Carson, and Kay Munro, and Beth herself may have some agenda items. A lot of what is discussed at Mutual Concerns takes longer than one meeting to address or solve. It appears that some of the information given to the ESL instructors at Wheable at their most recent staff meeting may have been assumed to be a "fait accompli." Let me assure you that the issue of summer staffing, and what will happen with the ESL program and instructors at Empress are far from being resolved. We will communicate with you whenever we need to pass on or gather information about these issues.
In the meantime, essentially, management can make a decision on anything that is not written in our contract WITHOUT consulting us. That said, the Mutual Concerns process in our contract does give us an opportunity to table some ideas. If an issue arises that needs staff input, the membership will certainly be consulted.
Please do not hesitate to e-mail me with your concerns at BarbOBrien@osstf11.com.
Committee Membership
Apparently a lot of people don’t know who is on our various OSSTF committees. These committees are always published in the newsletter when they are selected. Each issue of the newsletter is also published on the website. In addition, the names of the committee members of both CEI committees and District committees can also be found on the website.
Current committee members are as follows:
 | Mutual Concerns: Marilyn Light, Carol Leslie, Barb O’Brien |
| Staffing: Anne Corcoran, Betty Goutor, Linda Huber |
| Collective Bargaining: Betty Goutor, Carol Leslie, Monica Zacharias, Linda Huber, Barb O’Brien |
| CEI Health & Safety Rep: Monica Zacharias |
| CEI Political Action Rep: Monica Zacharias |
CEI representatives are still needed for the Human Rights / Status of Women Committee, the Communications / Excellence in Education Committee, and the Educational Services Committee.
Please put your name forth if you are at all interested.
Being on a committee is a means of learning how the OSSTF unit manages with its diverse groups, and you can be guaranteed some new friends and fun. It is difficult for the few people on the executive to cover all of these committees without giving an excessive amount of time. If you have any interest in these committees, please contact Wendy Hirschegger at the District Office.
Leads Restructure
The restructure of the lead positions began as of January, 2004. It will likely take some time to iron out the kinks in staffing. If you see problems developing, I need to know about them. It is difficult for the bargaining committee to decide on a plan without knowing exactly where the problems are, and how some of them can be solved through negotiations. The restructure will also likely pose some new staffing problems. Both OSSTF and management realize this, and we will be working together to make some of the transitions as smooth as possible. There is NO doubt that there will be changes. Where our collective agreement is silent on a subject, we have nothing to grieve when the Board makes a decision. As a Bargaining Unit we would like to try and negotiate language for as many of these areas as we can.
Leaves
Be aware that if you are requesting a leave for next fall, the request should be in to HR at the Board office by March 31, 2004. PLEASE remember to cc. OSSTF on any leave. It is difficult to be of assistance if we don’t know what’s happening. Also be reminded of Beth Strong’s memo of last year, that short term leaves of 2 weeks will only be granted in special circumstances, and that does not include a week on the beach!!
Retirements
If you are planning on retiring in June, please notify Beth Strong in writing at the beginning of April. This gives the Board enough time to ensure you are included in their retirement festivities. A copy should also go to the OSSTF office in care of either myself or Wendy Hirschegger, as we, too, have retirement festivities. We don’t want anyone to miss out on these events.
There are also some retirement seminars coming up. The OSSTF has invited Gerald Armstrong to give a presentation at Saunders S.S. on Tues. Feb 3 . More details are available on the OSSTF website. The Board is also running a retirement seminar on Wed. March 24 from 7-10pm at the Education Centre. More info is available on your First Class under Adult and Con Ed in a message from Becky Howse.
Bishop Townshend Award
Carol Moody, LBS instructor at Wheable, Hutton House, and CMHA, is this year’s recipient of the Bishop Townshend award. Carol exhibits exceptional talent in educating her students through physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual means. She will be honored at an awards dinner on February 17, 2004. Please join me in congratulating Carol for a job well done.
TVDSB Award of Distinction
This is also a very important award offer by the Thames Valley Board. Information on the qualifications for the award can be found on either the Board website or the OSSTF website. Please take a look. The award covers teachers, instructors, custodians, students, and community people who have performed in an exceptional manner in the area of education.
OSSTF Bursaries
Again, OSSTF is offering bursaries to children of its members. Click here for more information on these bursaries.
Meet with Your President
As the President of your bargaining unit, I have been afforded the luxury of ½ day a week to tend to business at the office. This also makes me available to you as a member. Perhaps you would like me to visit the staff at your school for an information session and to ask questions. I would be glad to do this. I am available on Thursdays, and could be at your school when classes are dismissed for a short meeting. Just call me and invite me!!
TVARRIS
TVARRIS stands for Thames Valley Absence Reporting and Replacement Information System and it will be introduced very soon for the ConEd employees. However, once employees are trained how to use it, for the time being it will only be used for absence reporting, not for calling in a supply instructor to cover your classes. Because ConEd has some very different aspects to the work situations of its members, there are technical aspects of the programming that need to be worked out before you will be able to use TVARRIS to call in a supply for you.
College of Teachers Information
The annual fee for 2004 has been maintained at $139.00. You can pay your fee online at http://www.oct.ca if you wish, or if not, you will be invoiced by the OCT directly after February 15. In either case, the fee must be paid by April 15. Members who have not paid their fees by then will be "suspended for non-payment of fees" and it will cost the $139 plus an $80 reinstatement fee (and possibly the re-submission of your documentation) to return to "good standing". In the past, some members have even been bumped down to the non-OCT rate of pay while reinstatement is being sorted out. Please do not let this happen to you! Pay your fees now or as soon as you receive the invoice!