Continuing Education Instructors' Bargaining Unit Newsletter:

Volume 4, Issue 1: September 13, 2005

President's Message

Welcome back after an extremely hot, hazy, humid summer. For those who worked summer school, I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy some of the weather, away from the oppressive heat in some of the schools you were in. For those who were fortunate enough to have the summer off, I am certain you are welcoming the opportunity to get back into routine! Again, I had a very busy summer, with the usual onslaught of guests. Perhaps when I retire, I’ll start making some money at changing beds and serving breakfast!!

I would ask you to do me a favour early this fall…..thank a custodian. Too often, we get busy doing our own thing, and we neglect to say thanks to the people who tend to matters when we are not at school. The Wheable custodians have had an exceptionally stressful summer. Due to renovations, classrooms needed to be packed up and stored. Indications are that the custodians will not be able to start moving furniture back until 5 days before school begins. This is an overwhelming task. I ask that you cut them some slack!!

I again attended Summer Leadership in Toronto from August 18 through to August 20. I attended workshops on Human Rights, Judicial Council, New Members Meetings, and the new Sector Council of Presidents. As always, the workshops were informative, and each year I gain a little more knowledge about the workings of OSSTF and what they have to offer us, its members.

I wish you all a rewarding year, and I thank you for all the hard work you do.

Remember, you can reach me by email or on my cell phone at 519-872-9431. When in doubt, give me a call.

CEI Executive 2005-2006

The CEI executive has undergone some changes this year. Betty Goutor, our long time secretary/ treasurer, decided to resign pending her retirement date. Veronica Faulkner has taken her place. Welcome, Veronica!

Shirley Hill is sitting on the Mutual Concerns Committee with Carol Leslie and myself. Janet Wilson has joined the Joint Staffing Committee. Thank you to these people for their willingness to step forward.

We are still in desperate need of someone to sit on the Pay Equity Maintenance Committee. Linda Huber and I are presently overseeing this task, but I am fondly looking forward to retiring some day, and someone needs to step in now in order to learn the procedure. If no one accepts this, the pay equity will not be maintained, and we could be losing out on valuable information.

Negotiations

Our last bargaining date was May 3. At that time, dates were to be set between Provincial OSSTF and the Board. Although our Provincial negotiator requested additional dates from the board prior to the end of June, none were set. The request was repeated last week, and one date has been set: Thursday September 15.

I will keep you abreast of the status of negotiations through your personal email addresses.

Representation

Be advised, that if you are asked to attend any sort of meeting with a supervisor, and you think the meeting may be disciplinary, you are entitled to union representation. You are also within your rights to request a delay in the meeting until you get that representation.

You should immediately be in touch with me, or someone from the District office (659-6588). If I am in class, our new contact at OSSTF district is Colleen Cannon. She will be glad to help you out until I can be contacted.

Email Addresses

To date I have 49 home email addresses for the instructors group. We have approximately 118 instructors. If anyone who has not given me a personal email address, you may do so by calling me or emailing me.

PD Day - October 21

As you know, October 21 has been scheduled as a Board-wide PD Day. The instructors have been advised that they will be paid a half day for attending . If you attend the whole day, you will not be paid any more.

We have also been given the opportunity for some input on having our own PD. If you have an idea that is relevant to your particular group, please see your program coordinator ASAP. Perhaps something of particular interest to your group can be put in place for half a day.

Marion Drysdale Awards

The Marion Drysdale contest is a writing and creative arts competition open to all secondary students and adult learners in Ontario. I had the prestigious honour of assisting in the district judging last year, and what a task it was! There are some very talented learners out there, and we are proud of them. I hope all instructors give some thought to entering their adult learners in this year’s competition.

This years’s theme is “Thinking Globally”. The description of the theme is as follows: “Thinking Globally can mean many different things to different people. Look beyond your own borders. Question where we fit within the global community. Consider political, economic, environmental, health and social justice issues or reflect upon unity, harmony, equity and awareness. Thinking Globally can include mistakes of the past, tragedy and beauty of today, and hopes or fears for the future.”

Good luck to all those who enter the competition!

Important Dates

Remember, requests for long term leaves must be in by November 1st, if commencing between January 01-August 31. Short term leaves require less time, but you are asked to submit them at the earliest possible time.

International Adult Learners’ Week

The following is an excerpt from a media release from the Ontario Literacy Coalition:

“There are over 207 adult literacy programs across the province, servicing 45,000 learners annually. The diverse community of learners includes francophones, Native peoples and Deaf and Deafblind.

The challenges faced by this segment of society have economic and social implications for individuals, families, communities, the province and the country, making literacy an issue for all Canadians.

‘Our literacy challenges are serious and demand serious attention and investment. Directions for the future are clear. It is time for all levels of government to act now,’ Anette Chawla, executive director of the OLC, says.”

District 11 extends its appreciation to the Continuing Education Instructors for the valuable work they do!

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

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