Provincial Website Resources
OSSTF/FEESO Collective Bargaining Bulletins (Login and Password Required) **Lost your login or password? Call Provincial Office or email osstf-member-help@osstf.ca Latest Bulletins: #40 – May 27 #41 – May 28 Media / News Articles Class size the lightening rod behind school labour turmoil (Toronto Star) Ordered back to work, Ontario teachers say this labour dispute isn’t over (Rabble.ca) Ontario elementary teachers increase work-to-rule campaign today (CBC News) Halton public elementary teachers to join stepped-up job sanctions (Hamilton Spectator) Social Media OSSTF/FEESO - Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @osstf Educators Matter – Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @educatorsmatter Visit the Educators Matter website
0 Comments
OSSTF/FEESO Collective Bargaining Bulletins(Login and Password Required) **Lost your login or password? Call Provincial Office or email osstf-member-help@osstf.ca Latest Bulletins: #38 – May 25 #39 – May 26 #40 – May 27 #41 – May 28
Media / News Articles
OSSTF/FEESO condemns the imposition of back-to-work legislation (OSSTF/FEESO) Ontario saves school year for 72,000 high school students (Ministry of Education) NDP voting against bill “appalling” Sandals says(CP24 – Video) Back-to-work legislation for Ontario teachers passes, despite NDP opposition (CBC News) Teachers condemn Ontario’s back-to-work legislation (Toronto Star) Sweeping back-to-work legislation a throw-back to Bill 115 (ETFO) Sudbury board cancels high school exams(Sudbury Star)
Social Media
OSSTF/FEESO - Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @osstf Educators Matter – Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @educatorsmatter
Visit the Educators Matter website Provincial Website Resources
OSSTF/FEESO Collective Bargaining Bulletins Issues 36 and 37 (Login and Password Required) **Lost your login or password? Call Provincial Office or email osstf-member-help@osstf.ca Ontarians don’t want to see cuts to public education (YouTube) Media / News Articles OSSTF: Two major stumbling blocks remain in talks (CP24 – Video interview with Paul Elliott) Liz Sandals remains committed to negotiated teachers settlement (CBC News) Negotiations at impasse between secondary teachers and govt: OSSTF (Global News) No deal for Sudbury, Ontario teachers (Sudbury Star) Sudbury POV: Don’t force end to teachers’ strikes (Sudbury Star) In labour dispute, Ontario teachers have a good tutor: B.C. Teachers (Globe and Mail) Is there a better way than strikes to resolve labour disputes in education? (Cross Country Checkup with Rex Murphy – CBC) Social Media OSSTF/FEESO - Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @osstf Educators Matter – Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @educatorsmatter Visit the Educators Matter website Provincial Website Resources
OSSTF/FEESO Collective Bargaining Bulletins (Login and Password Required) **Lost your login or password? Call Provincial Office or email osstf-member-help@osstf.ca Ontarians are asked, “What are your thoughts on lifting the class size caps?” (YouTube – Newest from people in Northern Ontario / Sudbury) Media / News Articles Ruling on legality of teachers’ strikes won’t come before next week (Toronto Star) Government waiting on back-to-work legislation (CHCH News - Video) Ruling on legality of teachers’ strikes won’t come until next week (City News – Video) Frustration mounts over ‘glacial pace’ of action on teacher strikes (Toronto Star) Parents say Durham high school students told to clean out lockers (Durhamregion.com) Ontario Premier Wynne willing to legislate striking teachers back to work (Globe and Mail) Sudbury teachers, students wait for board (Sudbury Star) Social Media OSSTF/FEESO - Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @osstf Educators Matter – Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @educatorsmatter Visit the Educators Matter website Here is some of the latest information, news and other items related to the ongoing job action and negotiations from OSSTF/FEESO. Upcoming Events Provincial Website Resources
District 13 - Durham Teacher/Occasional Teacher Labour Action Page District 3 - Rainbow Teacher/Occasional Teacher Labour Action Page District 19 – Peel Teacher/Occasional Teacher Labour Action Page Bargaining Bulletin #32 (May 12 – Require member login and password to access) Media / News Articles Illegal Strike? (CBC Metro Morning) BC teachers stand in solidarity with Ontario colleagues (BCTF) Are teacher strikes illegal? Durham, Peel, Sudbury boards want walkouts ruled unlawful (Toronto Star) Teacher strike unlawful: Sudbury board (Sudbury Star) Teachers strike unlawful? (CTV Northern Ontario) School boards claim Ontario secondary teachers’ strikes are ‘unlawful’ (CP24) Peel, Durham & Rainbow boards to file application to declare teachers strikes unlawful (CityNews) Photos of Strikes and Rallies Rallies at MPP Offices – May 8, 2015 Social Media OSSTF/FEESO - Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @osstf Educators Matter – Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @educatorsmatter Educators Matter – Ads Educators Matter – TV Ad #1 Educators Matter – TV Ad #2 Here is some of the latest information, news and other items related to the ongoing job action and negotiations from OSSTF/FEESO. Upcoming Events Provincial Website Resources OSSTF/FEESO Labour Action Page (information on strikes in Durham, Rainbow and Peel) In The Media (news items related to negotiations and labour action by OSSTF/FEESO) Bargaining Bulletin #31 (May 11 – Require member login and password to access) What do people in Ontario think about class size in schools? (video) Media / News Articles Ryan to bolster striking Sudbury teachers (Sudbury Star) The Agenda with Steve Paikin: Schools on Strike (May 11) MPP Lisa Gretzky (NDP – Windor West) – Speaks out on current state of Ontario’s education system Little progress as bargaining resumes in Durham high school teacher strike (DurhamRegion.com) City TV – May 4, 2014 — Peel secondary school teachers on strike Sudbury’s English public secondary school teachers’ strike enters third week (CBC – Sudbury) Liberals have themselves to blame for Ontario school strikes (Toronto Star) Photos of Strikes and Rallies Week One of Durham Strike Week Two – Durham and Rainbow Strikes Week Three – Durham, Rainbow and Peel Strikes Social Media OSSTF/FEESO - Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @osstf Educators Matter – Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @educatorsmatter Educators Matter – Ads Educators Matter – TV Ad #1 Educators Matter – TV Ad #2 On Friday, May 8 OSSTF staged province-wide Liberal constituency-office protests to voice their concerns about the failure of the Provincial Liberal Government to negotiate fairly with teachers and other unions. In District 17, a decent crowd turned out on short notice to make considerable noise outside the office of MPP Ann Hoggarth. Local news media, including CTV, were present for interviews and Ann Hoggarth, a teacher herself, addressed the crowd, stating that she still believed strongly that the solutions should be negotiated, not legislated. Rousing speeches were delivered by OSSTF D17 president Karen Littlewood, Patty Coates, President of D17 EA’s and DECE’s, and Janet Bigham, President of the Simcoe County Elementary Teachers’ Federation. Further support was offered by members from the local International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers, CUPE and OECTA.
Guest Blogger and D17 TBU Communications Officer Gord Bambrick If you have little people in your life, you may want to consider attending a fun event sponsored by your union. One of our members, Nathan Fisher, has organized a Family Play Date for our OSSTF District 17 Teachers' Bargaining Unit members and their families. We are renting out an indoor play place exclusively for OSSTF members and their littlest loved ones to run and play and have fun. The event will be held on Saturday May 30th from 5pm-8pm at Smart Moves Play Place at 565 Byrne Drive in Barrie. There will also be free pizza and juice. If you are still hungry, the snack bar will be open for purchase of additional snacks and probably coffee for the adults. All you need to do is call today and register. We guarantee a good time for all!!
Last week I received a message from our Provincial President Paul Elliott. One of our local members is conducting a survey looking at teacher appraisal practices in Ontario. Please read the information below and consider responding to the survey.
OSSTF is supporting a research study for Jennifer McGrath, an OSSTF member who is a doctoral candidate in Curriculum Studies & Teacher Development in the department of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning at OISE/UT. The purpose of the study is to examine stakeholder perceptions of, and experiences with, current teacher appraisal practices in Ontario. Jennifer will be conducting this research by inviting experienced teachers (i.e. have had at least one TPA after NTIP) currently employed in contract positions in public secondary schools in Ontario to complete an online survey. It is hoped that that this component of the study will provide insight into the actual outcomes of teacher evaluation in Ontario. The survey will take only a few minutes to complete. It is critical that teacher voices are heard in this conversation regarding appraisal practices. Research Question: What are the possibilities and limitations of current teacher performance appraisal policies and practices in Ontario? Jennifer will provide OSSTF with her final report. Experienced teachers are encouraged to complete this short survey by using the link below. This survey will be OPEN from May 1st - May 30th. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RWXN9L5 From Colin Matthew, my good friend and fellow bargaining unit president over in District 15 Trillium Lakelands:
Sisters and brothers we find ourselves in interesting times. Our working conditions are again threatened by those who believe that we lack the resolve to stand together. We enjoy innumerable benefits won by those that came before and as such it is incumbent on us to ensure that those to come enjoy better conditions than we do. Of course, teachers are not a particularly self-centred bunch – in fact our job demands that we give of ourselves intellectually and emotionally everyday. We do this, however, in an environment of almost total isolation and while we know our students and our craft it is easy enough to lose sight of our colleagues and their individual circumstances. A long retired phys ed teacher I know uses the term ‘ages and stages’ to refer to the changing priorities we face as we proceed through life. I want to take a minute to outline the minutiae of the Collective Agreement and argue that the part ‘that doesn’t affect me’ is worth fighting for, and even worth striking for if need be. Beginning and early career – time can seem limitless if family demands are few and energy levels run high but money and job security are often precarious, while student debt burdens us, and there are myriad pressures to jump into voluntary activities outside of school. Your CA has hiring, staffing, surplus protection as well as PD funds and recognition of prior work experience to help get you started. If you have questions you are entitled to representation and the union can come to you. Your CA also reminds us that voluntary activities are just that. Finding your feet – while the paycheck grows so to the demands, perhaps of buying a house or starting a family. Time is more precious and the money doesn’t seem go much further. Your CA defines limits on workload and provides unassigned time for prep and marking as well as a 40 minute lunch. You have access to benefits (for you or your family) and leave days for moving, legal appointments, or for attending a wedding as well as top up for maternity leaves. Hitting your stride – you’ve stopped checking the seniority list every spring, you may even have an established timetable, many of us have growing kids or aging parents that require our attention. Your CA gives provides financial incentives for leadership opportunities, allows medical leave for yourself and a family member puts limits on the TPA process, allows for transfers between schools and provides representation if you’ve hit a bump in the road while continuing to provide medical and drug coverage as well as counselling services. The long way home – the end of the mortgage may be in sight, for some the family takes up more time and money than ever whether growing kids or rapidly aging parents and we are confident in our teaching abilities and know well how to organize and manage the teaching year. Maybe we are even thinking about our best five. Your CA provides access to a variety of leaves including x/y leaves, bereavement leave and leave to attend graduation exercises. It guarantees your access to the pension plan, drug benefits and a grievance arbitration process, and ensures that your seniority provides the stability you have earned despite ever changing demographics. As you proceed through the ages and stages always bear in mind that you are paid to perform specific duties. Teaching, especially in small towns, is a special trust but you have a right to a life-work balance that works for you and your students. Judge not those around us as we cannot know their circumstance. Ask questions and be informed but never forget that none of the benefits that you currently enjoy comes free of charge and any of these can be stripped. We are at a time when we must stand visibly and vocally together and remind those that would seek to diminish us that we are not merely the frontlines of education, we are education! |
Karen LittlewoodThe view from my desk, as Teacher Bargaining Unit President for D17 Simcoe Archives
October 2016
Categories |