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OSSTF District 11- Thames Valley
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District 11 Office |
Education Matters Online
News
Volume 1, Issue 2: June 16, 2003
District Priorities for 2003-2004
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The 2003-2004 District Priorities, derived from the 2003-2004 Provincial Priorities and Programs, were passed at the District Annual Meeting on May 28, 2003.
PRIORITY #1 POLITICAL ACTION: ELECTIONS
PROVINCIAL
Assuming that a Provincial Election will occur in the fall, this 2002-2003 Priority continues. The OSSTF Provincial Election Readiness Plan has been developed and continues to evolve. Our District must continue to promote the plan and its objectives - fully supported public education guaranteed to all students in the province regardless of location, socio-economic status or ability.
Therefore, we should continue to:
 | strategically help riding associations both with funding and human resources; |
| lobby for the preservation of teacher counsellors, teacher librarians and special education, as examples of the effect of the government's funding model on the classroom; |
| mobilize our members to participate in our political action through both the PAC and Communications and Excellence in Education committees; |
| promote the OSSTF Student Success Plan at every opportunity; |
| to build coalitions with other affiliates, labour councils, school councils, student groups, and community groups with common education goals. |
MUNICIPAL
The Muncipal Elections will be held in November 2003. District 11 should identify trustee candidates that support public education, teachers, and the OSSTF Student Success Plan and help them get elected.
Therefore, we should:
| direct the PAC committee to survey candidates on key issues in order to identify candidates to support; |
| budget funds through PAC to assist these candidates; |
| promote the candidates through our communications committee. |
PRIORITY #2 UNION ADVOCACY
The membership of District 11 continues to deserve quality service. Improved communication remains a key component of service delivery as well as a means to educating the members about their union. We must continue to train and educate our members so that they can be more involved and develop as leaders.
Therefore we should:
| design and implement a voluntary email communication network with members; |
| continue to provide training for Branch Presidents and Worksite Representatives; |
| provide a new members' information session and workshop. |
PRIORITY #3 SUPPORT AND ASSIST THE PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVES' STUDENT ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN
The Provincial Executive on behalf of all members will continue to lobby for our students who have been the victims of seven years of Tory mismanagement of public education. District 11 must support and assist in this lobby. Funding cutbacks and the new curriculum have caused many program areas to suffer. Students are being denied a broad-based education and students not destined to post secondary education are becoming more at risk.
Therefore we should support the P.E. locally by assisting:
| with exposing the inequity and unfairness of standardized tests and continue actions against standardized tests and the Grade 10 Literacy Test in particular; |
| with demanding a review of the new curriculum which is failing many students; |
| with promoting alternative programs to ensure student success; |
| with developing coalitions with parents, students, special education groups, and other advocacy groups to promote the OSSTF Student Success Plan. |