Continuing Education Instructors' Bargaining Unit Newsletter:

Volume 3, Issue 3: February 1, 2005

President's Message

Christmas holidays now seem to be in the distant past, and as the days get longer, I look forward to the coming of spring, and some sunshine. This time of the year always seems to get a little draggy for me!

I have some updates for you in this newsletter, and I’m certain some of the news will be good news.

Please be reminded that OSSTF has now provided me with a cell phone, and you can reach me on it most days. If I don’t answer, it’s because I’m in class, but if you leave me a message, you can be assured that I will pick it up the same day. The phone number is 872-9431. Please make note of it, so you will have it handy if you need some information from me.

I understand that there were some errors on the telephone trees I distributed. If something is incorrect, or if I do not have a phone number for you, please e-mail me or call and leave me a message.

I would like to keep these phone trees as current as possible, especially with our current political situation and negotiations. They are a means of facilitating a quick message to all of you. If I don’t have a number for you, we can’t get a message to you.

2005 College of Teachers Fee

Remember that your College of Teachers fees will be due in the near future. PLEASE, for your own sake, don’t let them lapse. You risk having your wage immediately lowered, and sometimes it is a long process to get yourself back in the College’s good graces! You will be invoiced for fees, and you can also pay them on-line on the College of Teachers’ website www.oct.ca.

You’ll be pleased to know that the fees have dropped from $139.00 to $104.00.
 

Leaves

The deadline for long term leaves is approaching. If you are requesting a leave commencing between September 2005 and December 2005, your request must be in by March 31, 2005.If you think you might be wanting a leave for then, please ensure you request it by the appropriate time. Otherwise, you will be forced to resign those hours, and thus lose your NIT. If you put a request in for a leave, and then your circumstances change, the leave can be cancelled simply by notifying the Board and your supervisor.

Short term leaves need as much advance notice as you are able to give. Remember, the Board no longer grants leaves for pleasure trips backed up to a regular school holiday.

Negotiations Update

Again, I feel as though negotiations are a very slow process. However, we have made some headway, and I know you will be pleased with some of the changes. We are now heading into the money issues, and, of course, that will take a little longer.

We have 2 dates set for Feb 8, and Feb 18, and hope to get some of the monetary items resolved in those two days.
When we feel we have a fair deal, we will be calling you together for a ratification vote. I don’t see you having to wait til next year for this to happen, so that’s a good thing.

Our bargaining unit, and all other bargaining units in the province without a current contract, are under “Provincial Responsibility for Negotiations” (PRN). This means, that Provincial OSSTF is now in charge of our bargaining and that of the Teachers’ BU and the Occasional Teachers’ BU.

Two very experienced and capable liaisons, Dale Leckie and Ken Coran, both originally from District 11, have been assigned to District 11 for bargaining.

Beginning shortly, the District Office will be doing a “road show” to discuss the impact of PRN to all of the groups. You will be notified of the date, time and location of “Road Show” meeting for CEI.

Pay Equity

Our benefits are now in place. I have already used my drug card, and it worked just fine!

As a result of discussions with TVDSB, the Board has agreed there will be NO payments for Christmas break and March break. You will receive a notice, likely by e-mail, from the Board verifying this information, and notifying you that there will be NO automatic withdrawal of premiums during this time. However, the issue of summer payment during the lay-off is still at issue. We hope to resolve this through negotiations.

We have also met with the Board to finalize the Terms of Reference for our pay equity agreement. Our job descriptions will flow from the terms of reference. Job descriptions are a duty of the Board, and we will have no part in this portion of the process.

Bishop Townsend Awards

The Bishop Townshend Awards of Educator Excellence, jointly sponsored by OSSTF District 11, the TVDSB and the Anglican Diocese of Huron, are presented annually at an awards dinner.

The criteria for selection of the recipient of this award are derived from Bishop Townshend’s philosophy of education. He believed that students must receive education in intellectual, physical, spiritual and social realms if they are to live a more abundant life. The educator who helps the student develop in such a rounded fashion would also demonstrate excellence in these areas.

The nominees for this award are selected by selection panels within each school or bargaining unit because they exemplify those ideals. This year’s Bishop Townshend Award recipient for the CEI group is ESL instructor Doug Pattyson.

We congratulate Doug on winning this prestigious award!

OSSTF Provincial Executive Elections

This year is an election year for Provincial OSSTF.

Ken Coran has thrown his hat in the ring, and is running for President. He would make a great Provincial leader for OSSTF, and we wish him every success in his campaign.

In addition, Federation Services Officer Dave Russell has decided to run for OTF Governor. District 11 member Fay Mombourquette has served in this role for the last six years and she has decided not to stand for re-election.

District 11 Executive Council overwhelmingly endorsed both Ken’s and Dave’s candidacy for the respective positions.

The elections will take place at the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Assembly (AMPA), which is held during the March Break.

Retirement

Thinking of retiring? If so, both OSSTF and TVDSB are offering seminars for retirees. They are as follows:

OSSTF Retirement seminar: OTPP
Tues. Feb. 08, 4.30pm at Saunders S.S.

OSSTF Retirement Seminar: OMERS
Thurs. Feb.17, 4pm at the District office (680 Industrial Rd.)

TVDSB Retirement Seminar: OTPP and OMERS
Wed. Mar.23, 7-10pm at the Education Centre

If you are planning to retire, please send your letter of retirement in early enough to the Board, with a copy to me, to ensure you are included in all of the festivities for retirees. We don’t want anyone to miss a party!!!

Religious Holidays

At a recent mutual concerns meeting, religious holidays was brought up. The Thames Valley D.S.B. allows 3 paid days for religious holidays. This requires a letter to the Board with a copy to your program co-ordinator. We were assured that an e-mail letter is an appropriate means of requesting this time. The Board also requests that we do it as early in advance as possible.

We were also informed that the Board is considering posting the allowed religious holidays on their website. This would make it easier to know which holidays you qualified for.

It should be understood also that MORE than 3 days may be taken. However, these days will be taken WITHOUT pay.

2005 Pre-Budget Hearings

The Standing Committee of Finance and Economic Affairs held the 2005 Pre-Budget Hearings from January 10 - 20, about a month earlier than expected and without very much advance warning. Fortunately, the provincial office was alerted to this by one of our provincial allies in the Health Coalition. Immediately, the provincial office alerted District Offices in the cities where the hearings were taking place.

District 11 OSSTF secured standing at the London hearing and District President Wendy Anes Hirschegger made both oral and written submissions on Monday January 17. The District 11 written submission can be downloaded from the district website.

News

Please call me or e-mail me if you ever have any items you’d like to see put into the newsletter. Sometimes, I feel like I’m repeating myself, or blathering on!! There are many of you out there who likely have some good ideas for newsletters, so please let me know!!

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

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