Continuing Education Instructors' Bargaining Unit Newsletter:

Volume 3, Issue 1: September 24, 2004

President's Message

Welcome back after a long restful summer. Although the weather was not what I would have liked, it was still nice to have some down time.
Now that we have been at school for a few weeks, you’ve likely slid right back into routine, and summer holidays are a distant memory!

In the last week of August, I attended the Summer Leadership Conference organized by OSSTF in Toronto. There were 3 ½ days of workshops. I attended the following workshops:
•Mediation
•Judicial Council
•Duty to Accommodate
•Grievance to Arbitration
•Effective Communicating
•Pay Equity Maintenance
All of these workshops are presented by Provincial OSSTF staff who are experts in each of the designated areas. I certainly was overloaded with good information. I just hope I can remember it all!

Please remember that, as your elected President, I am here to serve your needs. If you are in doubt, please call me. I can be reached at Wheable: 452-2660, Ext.554. I pick up voice messages several times a day.

I wish each and every one of you a successful, rewarding school year.

Pay Equity

As all of you know, pay equity agreement has been reached. For this, we can thank Linda Huber and Arnette Gardiner. The back pay is a nice bonus for some of you, and probably put a smile on a few faces. However, our BIG success was fully paid benefits. It was right at the top of the surveys you filled out last year, so I know it meant a lot.
We still have some kinks to iron out in the agreement, and job descriptions for each of our classifications will also flow from the agreement. I’ll keep you up-to-date!

Bargaining

I notified the Board at the beginning of June of our intent to bargain. Beth Strong responded immediately, and we mutually agreed to set the matter over to September. In late August, she asked me for dates, and, believe it or not, we’re underway!Last time we waited 3 years to begin negotiations. This time we’ve waited 3 months!!

We had our first meeting with the Board on Wed. Sept. 22, and gave them our brief. We have set up 6 more days between now and Nov. 30 to meet with them.

Karl Dean, an OSSTF Provincial Executive Assistant is assisting us with negotiations, as is John Bernans, who is the Chief Negotiator for OSSTF District11.

I have been advised that, for OSSTF business, I should NEVER use the Board’s First Class e-mail. Because I don’t have personal e-mail addresses for a lot of you, I have devised a phone tree. Each of you will be responsible to call one other member in the bargaining unit. I will only use this phone tree if we need to get an urgent message to the membership. You will each get your copy of the phone tree soon.

Benefits

By now, all of you will have received your package from the Board outlining your benefits package.. Please be reminded that a booklet will be printed, giving you much more detail as to what is covered and what isn’t.

You have also been given until the end of October of this year, to fill out the forms for enrolment. DO NOT MISS THE DEADLINE! If you do, you will have to complete the Evidence of Insurability form, which includes a medical examination, and you could be denied coverage. If this happens, OSSTF has no way of assisting you.

Marion Drysdale Awards

The Marion Drysdale contest is a writing and creative arts competition open to all public secondary students, and adult learners in Ontario.

Last year, the “Adult Learner” category was won by a literacy student in Woodstock.

This year’s topic for the competition is “Perspectives.” The details for the competition can be found on page 32 of your pocket planner and on the District website.

Entries must be submitted to the District office by November 19, 2004. Keep this date in mind!

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

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