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Volume 3, Issue 4: April 25, 2005

1. DISTRICT PRIORITY #1: MONITORING THE GOVERNMENT

•Minister of Education Gerard Kennedy spoke at AMPA on Monday March 14, 2005. He continues to talk about “peace and stability” but so far has failed to put in place the funding and legislative pieces needed for local bargaining units to be able to reasonable settlements. He spoke for so long that there was little time for questions from the floor–only 3 were asked before time ran out.
•Kennedy also held a lunch-time reception which I attended and at which I did have an opportunity to ask a question about the Ontario Teacher Qualifying Test. I said that since he had cancelled the OTQT but hadn't repealed the legislation that requires it, he should not keep these students in limbo, that he should pass some kind of legislation that declares them fully qualified. He tried to say they weren't in limbo, they would get a provisional CofQ. I pressed on, saying that that was unacceptable, that a provisional certificate IS keeping them in limbo, that it was not the right thing to do to, that they should not have to pay the price of the government's indecision. He didn’t have an answer.
•On Monday afternoon, I put forward a motion regarding the predicament in which the Faculty of Education students find themselves and it was passed unanimously. It said:
BIRT OSSTF lobby the Provincial Government to:
a) repeal the section of the Education Act that requires newly certified teachers to pass a teacher qualifying test and
b) declare that graduates of Ontario Faculties of Education are fully qualified to teach in Ontario without any kind of additional qualifying test requirement other than the pre-service program.
There was also another motion regarding this situation that was brought forward by the Provincial Executive and also passed unanimously:
BIRT AMPA request the Provincial Executive to develop an action plan to respond to the imposition of new requirements for Provisional Certificates of Qualification.
•A petition put together by the Nipissing University Faculty of Education Students was circulated at District Executive Council for members to sign, and  copies were sent to all TBU branches also and the other Bargaining Unit Presidents. I have also forwarded it to the Faculty of Education at UWO. Once I have the signed petitions, I will request an appointment with Deb Matthews, MPP for London North Centre in whose riding Althouse is, and present the petitions to her with the request that she present them in the legislature.
•Another petition being collected by Rosario Marchese, Education Critic for the NDP was also circulated and distributed. It requests the establishment of a Standing Committee on Education.

2. DISTRICT PRIORITY #2: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT / MEMBER OUTREACH

•The Educational Services Department and Human Rights/Status of Women committees have planned an excellent PD program “Bullying: Make it STOP!” for May 5. I encourage all interested to sign up for this event which promises to be very worthwhile. Spaces are limited; so act quickly.
•I have begun to think about proposing an inter-district leadership mini-conference for the fall to which we can invite leaders from our own bargaining units and from neighbouring districts. There is provincial funding available for inter-district events of this nature. We would arrange for a number of provincial people to present a variety of workshops on the kinds of issues that Branch Presidents and Workplace Reps need to know or often have to deal with. Please let me know if you are interested in such an event, and if so, what topics or issues you would like to see covered.

3. STATUS OF PROVINCIAL PICTURE RE NEGOTIATIONS

•Across the province, all 110 bargaining units who were without a contract at the beginning of the school year are still without a contract now. Many of those bargaining units have taken strike votes already and several are now in legal strike/lockout position.
•Provincial office staff continue to meet with Ministry of Education staff to try to come to some sort of understanding of what changes need to be made to the funding formula and legislation in order for local bargaining units to be able to come to agreements with their boards.
•Locally, the Teachers' Bargaining Unit and the board met with the conciliator on April 13. We have requested a "No board" report, and so that will likely put the TBU in strike/lockout position by May 4. Prior to any sanction beginning, there would be a General Members' Meeting to share the information.

4. STRIKES/LOCKOUTS BY OTHER PERSONNEL

• At present, ETFO–Thames Valley is in a “work-to-rule” sanction. Since we have PSSP and CEI members who may work in some elementary schools, Members should be aware of the following protocol concerning strikes and lockouts that involve teachers and other educational workers belonging to OSSTF, ETFO, AEFO, OECTA and CUPE:
1. The law requires members of other bargaining units to cross the picket line unless they are threatened with violence. If this occurs, return home, contact your supervisor and explain the circumstances.
2. Other unions are aware of the law and generally make provision to accommodate other members.
3. Members should show their solidarity and support with the striking/locked out members by adhering to the guidelines attached in Appendix H.

5. SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES

•The children of OSSTF members who intend to pursue post-secondary education next year may apply for the following scholarships/bursaries:
•Information about the Federation Family Bursaries can be found at http://www.osstf11.com/EMO3-3-OSSTFbursaries.htm. The deadline for applying is April 30.
•Information about the OFL Labour Honour Roll Scholarships can be found at http://www.osstf11.com/EMO3-3-OFLscholarship.htm. The deadline for applying is May 13.
•The OTIP Bursary Program promotes post-secondary education for the children of members who have some kind of individual or group policy insurance with OTIP. Since the TBU Long-term Disability plan is with OTIP, the children of all TBU members would qualify. The children of OSSTF members from the other three bargaining units who have a home or car insurance policy with OTIP are also eligible to apply. See http://www.otip.com/content/about_us/bursary_program_en.asp for details. The deadline for applying is June 15.
•The Johnson Scholarships and Academic Grants Program promotes post-secondary education for the children of members who have a car or home insurance policy with Johnson Insurance. See http://www.johnson.ca/english/Scholarships_And_Grants.jsp for details. The deadline for applying is September 15.  

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

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