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OSSTF District 11- Thames Valley
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District 11 Office |
Education Matters Online
News
Volume 2, Issue 4: May 10, 2004
District and Bargaining Unit Presidents' ReportsClick on any of the items below to go directly to that article. |
District/TBU
President: Don Rowdon
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District/TBU President: Don Rowdon
From the Teachers' Bargaining Unit Newsletter (April 21, 2004)
We are very confident that all our contract teachers will have teaching positions in the fall. However, the stress of not knowing where the assignment is or what it is, is substantial.
Even more unsettling, the surplus status changes frequently during the process, as the various steps in staffing protocol occur. There is a link to these timelines, including the dates of the various postings, on the front page of our website.
I encourage all members to support each other during the next two months ahead. I know our more experienced teachers will be there for our newer members to mentor, counsel, and if necessary offer a shoulder. Be assured that your Branch Presidents are available to advise you and that your Federation Services Officers are carefully monitoring the staffing process. If at any time you need more clarification do not hesitate to call us at the office.
Continuing Education Instructors' Bargaining Unit President: Barb O'Brien
The Con. Ed. Instructor group has
had a busy year. For those of you out there who don’t know who we are:
we consist of about 125 instructors, including ESL, Literacy & Basic
Skills, International Languages, and Driver Ed . We work at several
locations in the city, some of us being based in schools, and some of us
based in community agencies.
This year, we have spent a good
part of the year preparing for our next round of negotiations, and
attempting to settle pay equity….to no avail.
We have also had some exciting
things happen within our bargaining unit. An adult Literacy and Basic
Skills student from Woodstock, Andy Berghuis, won the
Marion Drysdale Award. He was a student of Dianne Ward. Both Andy
and Dianne were treated royally at AMPA, where Andy appeared to accept his
award. Our group was proud of both of them.
ESL instructor Denise Wilkin has
won a scholarship from OSSTF. She is planning on returning to school next fall
to complete a BEd in Adult Education.
As a group, we also participated
in the other events that most OSSTF members ran in their respective
schools, including the White Ribbon campaign, Jessie’s Journey, and
Heritage Day. Heritage Day celebrations were particularly interesting for
me, as I had never seen any of them before. Our ESL students wear their
heritage proudly, and it was exciting to see them so pumped.
Occasional Teachers' Bargaining Unit President: Joe Wilson
From the Occasional Teachers' Bargaining Unit Spring Newsletter
AMPA has come and gone, with no major changes, but with a clear message that teachers are tired of being assailed, attacked, taken for granted and mistreated. It seems our "interesting times" will continue.
Locally, District 11 has, I feel, continued to be well organized, well run and responsive to the needs of its members. I think our District Office, led by outgoing president Don Rowdon, staffed by four talented and caring Federation Services Officers, and organized by Administrative Assistant extraordinaire Laurie Lafraniere, has worked long and hard to take care of us all. And soon - we all get that wonderful summer break that we all so richly deserve!
Professional Student Services Personnel Bargaining Unit: Sandra Miller
Some other specific points of interest for all to know:
- We want to congratulate Carol Ross, this years Bishop Townsend Award Recipient for the PSSP Unit. By a unanimous decision everyone understood how deserving Carol is of this award. Congratulations Carol.
- James Antone, First Nations Counsellor, won the Counsellor of the Year Award for the Ontario Native Education Counsellors Association. Congratulations James, another well deserved recipient.
- Although we were "in mourning" at the loss of Bob Fisher to Mobile drive, we quickly recovered with the hiring of Nancy McDougall as the newest Federation Services Officer who has been assigned to support the PSSP group. Congratulations Nancy! The PSSP Executive looks forward to continuing to work together with you.
- Another hearty congratulations goes to Yolanda Niewesteeg, a 2004 Award of Distinction Recipient. Yolanda's commitment to the students she works with and her dedication to the PSSP executive are greatly appreciated.
As you can see we have a very dynamic group of members within the PSSP Bargaining Unit These are the award winners I am aware of and my apologies if I have missed anyone. If I have missed anyone please contact me so I can make sure it is placed in the next EdMatters It has been a pleasure serving as your President.
Please mark on your calendars the date of the Annual General Meeting to come out and meet these outstanding individuals along with the rest of your current and incoming Executive. The Annual General Meeting will take place at:
Lamplighter Inn (Wellington Road)
- Oak RoomTuesday May 25, 2004
Meeting from 4:30 to 6:00pm
Dinner at 6:00pm
See you there to support your union!