From the President George Taylor
ETFO Durham Steward Meetings and OTs
ETFO DURHAM STEWARD MEETINGS AND OTs
Within the next few days, the ETFO Durham Teacher Local Stewards will be holding in-school information meetings regarding collective bargaining prior to their preliminary submission meeting on May 23rd. (Our preliminary submission meeting was on April 26th.) All LTO and Daily OTs will be invited to attend these meetings. The issues and implications affect all of us – salary freeze, grid freeze, LTO sick leave, and lack of daily work because of reduced sick leave. Please attend these meetings and become more informed. For more information, please go to www.controlyourfuture.ca or contact our office at info@etfodotl.com or 905-404-0411/1-888-665-6611. Control YOUR future.
UNFILLED JOBS/HALF DAY ASSIGNMENTS
The number of unfilled jobs continues to increase mainly because of half day assignments and time, distance, and safe travel factors. The Board is aware of these situations. We have discussed these factors but as of yet, no solutions have been found. As mentioned at our AGM, the Board may be hiring new OTs to ease this situation. While this may be a short term solution, there may be implications regarding work in the fall. If at all possible, please accept these jobs. As you finish a morning assignment, call ahead to your afternoon school to inform them that you might be late. Perhaps if the administrators are made more aware of our situation regarding half days, the solution of fixing &/or modifying the SFE might be found sooner rather than just hiring. If you encounter any problems, please inform me.
Yours in Federation, George
From the President George Taylor
Nominations for the 2012 – 2014 executive delegates to the ETFO AGM
The following nominations were received by Friday, April 20th, 2012.
2012 – 2014 EXECUTIVE:
| President: | George Taylor | acclaimed |
| First Vice-President: | Ingrid Thompson | acclaimed |
| Second Vice-President: | Janet Heath | acclaimed |
| Secretary: | Laura Palmer | acclaimed |
| Treasurer: | John Fowler | acclaimed |
| Members at Large: | Johanne Blake | acclaimed |
| Louisa Corby | acclaimed | |
| Etelka Haagaard | acclaimed | |
| Connie Zoet | acclaimed |
The above represents a full executive; therefore, as per the Constitution, no elections will be held.
DELEGATES/ALTERNATES TO THE ETFO AGM:
Johanne Blake, Louisa Corby, John Fowler, Etelka Haagaard, Janet Heath, Ann Sakaguchi, George Taylor,
Ingrid Thompson.
Because we encourage grass-roots participation in our Union, members in good standing who wish to attend the ETFO AGM for one of the four days to experience the flavour of the AGM are invited to contact Ingrid Thompson prior to May 31st.
Yours in Federation, George
From the President George Taylor
All about SmartFindExpress
I met with the Board on April 16th to discuss several concerns that we are all having with Smart Find Express. The Board is aware that there are still many problems with the system but they are working hard in an attempt to find solutions. Some of the problems will be harder to resolve than others. A few of the items discussed are listed below:
- Refusals: The Board will continue the grace period of not recording refusals as we transition into the system. They will advise us as to when they will start enforcing the refusal rule and we will let you know when this occurs.
- Calls in class: The Board is aware of this situation and is looking into it. As of yet, there is no solution.
- Equity of jobs: The Board has assured that they are constantly checking to verify that the SFE system’s rotation is equitable based on members’ profiles.
- Time and distance between am and pm assignments: Once again, the Board is aware of this problem and is trying its best to correct it. However, we will need to accept that, on occasion, this will be an issue. It is up to you as to whether or not you accept these assignments.
- Booking off: We have had a number of complaints that people have booked off and are still getting calls. It might be possible that you have not booked off correctly. If in doubt regarding how to book off, call the SFE trouble shooting line and have them walk you through it.
- Calls for work outside your profile: If you are called for a job that is outside your profile, it is not likely a SFE error but more likely that everyone who fits that particular profile has been booked and that they are trying to fill a job with a qualified certified teacher. Please accept the job unless you are extremely uncomfortable with the assignment. If the Board has unfilled assignments, they will hire.
The Board had unfilled assignments on April 13th and April 16th, 2012. If you were available on either of these days and did not work, please let me know.
ETFO has created a website dedicated to this round of collective bargaining. To stay informed on what is happening provincially log on to www.controlyourfuture.ca
DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 26 Preliminary Submission Approval Meeting – Oshawa Shrine Club
May 2 Dinner Registration due
May 10 Annual General Meeting and Dinner
Yours in Federation, George
From the President George Taylor
Prliminary Submission Meeting
On August 31, 2012, our collective agreement with the Durham District School Board comes to an end.
Last year, a Collective Bargaining Committee was established to write a submission (termed a ‘preliminary submission’) to present to the Board for the purposes of negotiating a new collective agreement.
After months of research and writing, most of it based on your responses to our on-line survey of last spring, the Committee is now ready to present this preliminary submission to you, the members of the ETFO Durham Occasional Teachers’ Local, for approval.
The Preliminary Submission Meeting will be held on
Thursday, April 26th, 2012
4:30 p.m.
Oshawa Shrine Club, 1626 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON L1G 4X9
The meeting format is as follows:
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.:
- sign in
4:30 p.m.:
- Presentation of the Preliminary Submission
- Questions/Answers
- Voting
- Adjournment
It is extremely important that you attend this meeting. The collective agreement we negotiate with the Board will determine your working conditions, wages, and access to daily, LTO, and permanent jobs for the next several years.
I urge you to attend.
Refreshments will be available.
Dependent Care Reimbursement Forms will be available.
Yours in Federation, George
On March 19, 2012, the Durham District School Board initiated its new Dispatch System, SmartFindExpress (SFE). Unfortunately it did not get off to as smooth a start as everyone hoped for. There were, and are, a number of ongoing problems with this new system. The Board is working very hard on attempting to fix these bugs. I am passing on your problems to them as soon as you advise me of them. Most of us are experiencing the same problems although there are some unique situations for some members. I would like to go over some of the most common problems that seem to be surfacing and what potential solutions are being worked out.
- Missed and refused calls: For the duration of the startup and until the system is operating smoothly, missed and refused calls will not be recorded against you.
- Calls outside your profile: If you are uncomfortable accepting these assignments, refuse them as outside your qualifications. Go on the SFE site, which can be accessed on the drop down menu on the right side of the DDSB’s home page and modify your profile to reflect your availability. You can also use this site to book off. Take a moment and check out the different options you can utilize.
- Calling while you are in class: The Board is working on how they can contact you while you are in an assignment. There is no solution as of yet but the Board is aware of the problem.
- Confirmation slips: You will no longer being getting confirmation slips at the end of the day. These will now be emailed to you a couple of days later.
- Not enough time between morning and afternoon assignments: This is a problem as the computer is unable to determine school locations and start times. The Board is aware of the situation, but at this time has not told me if there is a solution.
- Continual phone calls: Several members have informed me that they got several calls in a row. The Board is aware of this situation but as of yet there is no solution.
- Call at unexpected times: Login to the SFE site and adjust your times available to be contacted.
- Requests: There had been some difficulty processing requests. The Board put in an upgrade over the weekend that should correct this problem.
There are several other problems and hopefully they all will be resolved soon. In the meantime, please keep letting me know when you experience difficulties with this system at info@etfodotl.com. Several other Boards have gone through this transition and encountered the similar start up difficulties, but after the bugs are worked out, they have found this to be a more efficient system.
Yours in Federation, George
From the President George Taylor
Your SmartFindExpress (SFE) Registration Information is in your Mailbox
You will be receiving a letter in the mail this week from the Durham District School Board regarding SmartFindExpress (SFE), the new dispatch system that the Board will begin using on March 19, 2012.
This letter will include a brochure which will lead you through the steps you need to register yourself on the system. PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT REGISTER YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CALLS OR ASSIGNMENTS.
All Occasional Teachers, whether daily or in extended and long term assignments need to register.
The Occasional Teacher Local office will be open on Wednesday, February 22 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm if you require help in registering. The office is located at 1077 Boundary Road, Unit 107 in Oshawa.
Yours in Federation, George
From the President George Taylor
AUTOMATED DISPATCH SYSTEM
The Board has released some details regarding the launch of the SmartFind Express Automated Dispatch System. The new system will be easy to use and has a number of advantages. You will be able to view a record of the assignments you have accepted, both future and past. When you accept an assignment, you will be given a confirmation number which you will need to take with you on the assignment.
The Board will sending information to all members, including LTOs, in mid February about SmartFind Express. Included with this mailing will be your login information and passwords. You will need to phone and register on the SmartFind Express System to activate your profile. It is a very simple procedure but we will make sure that the office is open for those who might need support in doing this. The actual launch date has not yet been announced but is expected to be in late March or April. Once the system begins, you will continue to receive call outs by phone but you must follow the instructions in the letter and register with the system as it will be the only way to receive supply assignments.
With this system all of our members will be receiving Board email addresses as well as the ability to log in to the Board Portal and the Durham Board computer systems, including PD Place. As well, we will now have the ability to use classroom technology resources, including Smart Boards, with our own login. Our PL Committee will be developing workshops to help us in dealing with these new technologies.
I will keep you informed when I receive more information.
SHORTAGE OF WORK
I have received a number of emails from members saying that there has been limited work since the Break. I have discussed this with the Board and they have assured me that this will be changing as we move into February. The Board still has its hiring freeze in place and I will be working hard to maintain this until everyone is working the number of days they need.
PAID PA DAYS FOR LTOs AND EXTENDED OTs
January 27th is the first PA Day of 2012. If you are working in a LTO or as an Extended OT, you should participate, with pay, in any professional activities on that day and all other PA days that occur during your assignment including the last PA day at the end of the school year.
DATES TO REMEMBER
January 31st Grill George, 4:30pm, at the Local Office
February 15th Durham Occasional Local General Meeting, 4:30pm, at the Local Office
April 26th Collective Bargaining Meeting, Approval of the Preliminary Submission, 4:30pm, location TBA
May 10th Annual General Meeting and Dinner, 4:30pm, Royal Ashburn
Yours in Federation, George
From the President George Taylor
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and healthy Holiday Season. Take the time to rest and relax and come back energized for the winter term.
I need to share some good news and bad news with you. The bad news is that the OCT fee for 2012 has been increased to $138.00 (up from $120.00 last year). This will be automatically deducted from your January 13, 2012 pay, if you have worked enough days to cover the payment. (The January 13th pay is for the pay period of December 12-23.) If you did not work that pay period, you will need to pay the OCT fees directly. You can do this by going to their website www.oct.ca and choosing one of their payment options. You will need to do this prior to April 15, 2012, or your teaching certification will lapse.
The good news is that we have the lowest number of members on the list then we have had in several years. As a result, our members are working more than in previous years. It is in our best interest to maintain our list at these numbers and to do this we need to make ourselves as available as possible for work in the New Year. If the Board starts having unfilled assignments, they will want to start hiring to the list. Let’s show the Board that the number on the list at this time is the right number.
Yours in Federation, George
From the President George Taylor
Automated Dispatch System
The Durham Board has informed me that they have delayed the implementation of the new Automated Dispatch system until March 19, 2012.
They expect to mail out the initial instructional packages with passwords to all of our members sometime in February. They assure me that requests will be honoured in this system.
I will continue to update you on this as facts become available. There are many unfounded rumours being circulated at this time. Please ignore these and if you have any questions, phone or email me.
Unfilled Jobs
The DDSB informed me that they had a number of unfilled assignments on Friday, November 25th. They are concerned that this might occur again. It is very important that if we don’t want the Board to hire to the list that we make ourselves as available as possible.
If you were willing and able to work on the 25th and did not get called, it is very important that you let me know. Please email me at info@etfodotl.com, subject line ‘November 25th’ as soon as possible if you did not work on
that day.
Collective Bargaining
Our present agreement ends in August, 2012. The collective bargaining process has already begun with your committee preparing our preliminary submission based on the results of last spring’s survey. Please watch for more information and if we are to be successful, we need your involvement. You’ll have your opportunity to further present your views and to ‘Grill George’ early in the new year.
We hope you see you all at the Festive Soiree on December 14th. The registration form is on the website.
My best wishes to all for a happy holiday.
Yours in Federation, George
From the President George Taylor
FAQs
I have noticed that as your President, I am asked similar questions on an ongoing basis. I want to take the opportunity to address some of these issues and concerns which, by your calls and emails, are very important to you.
TIMETABLE OF THE TEACHER:
The collective agreement (Article 16.01 (i), page 30) states: ‘The timetable of the Occasional Teacher shall be the same as the timetable of the teacher being replaced.’
What this means: You are only responsible to do the duty that the teacher you are replacing is responsible for on his/her timetable. It is understood that we do not work the before school duty but a comparable supervisory duty may be assigned by the principal during the day.
If the timetable of the teacher indicates a prep during the day, you are entitled to that prep. You should not be asked to give up that prep by anyone and you should decline if asked to do so unless there is an emergency. If the administration insists, do not argue with them, do the class assigned, and call me immediately. If the prep is being traded off by staff, discuss it with the administration, and again, if they insist that you do the re-‐assignment, do so under protest, and again, call me immediately.
We have won several grievances on this issue and I will continue to fight for this hard won right.
Our preps, like the classroom teachers’ preps, are self-‐directed. The priority during the prep is to make sure that you are prepared for the rest of the lessons for that day and to fulfill any other professional responsibilities you may have for the day.
The important thing to remember is that your prep is not break time and you are expected and paid to remain professionally occupied during this time. If your prep falls during the last period of the day, do not leave the school or you could be subject to discipline.
BENEFITS:
In our collective agreement, we are given access to apply for benefits if we have worked 80 days in the elementary panel in the previous school year. Please note that the DDSB will not combine any days worked in the secondary panel with your elementary days to qualify you for benefits. If you work in both panels and you want to qualify for, or keep your benefits, please keep careful track of your days.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING REGISTRATION:
We are thrilled with the number of people registering for workshops. Here are a few reminders for successful registration:
- Always use the professional learning email address: pl@etfodotl.com
- DO NOT use ‘reply’ to register for a workshop. Your request for registration will not get to the Professional Learning Committee.
- ALWAYS include the workshop title, your name as you wish it to appear on your certificate, and your telephone number.
- CANCELLATIONS: If you find that you cannot attend a workshop, please let the PL Committee know as soon as possible. We cannot process a cancellation on the day of a workshop.
Look for future bulletins dealing with common concerns. If there is something that you think that should be addressed, please call or email.
Yours in Federation, George
From the President George Taylor
Thoughts from the BBQ
It was great to hear all of your insights and comments at the BBQ. It is important to know that we have such
a great group of thoughtful and involved members. Two issues kept reoccurring during the afternoon:
start times and hiring.
The start times document for elementary schools is on our website, www.etfodotl.com, in the FYI section. These start times are provided by the DDSB and are subject to change at any time. It is always wise to have Dispatch confirm these start times when they book you for an assignment. It’s also a good habit to mark these start times,
in pencil, into your pocket calendar when you get them. Please also notify me if you find any errors.
Hiring: The DDSB has not done any mass hiring as in previous years. They have told me that they have no plans to do so at this point. To ensure that there is no hiring to the list, we need to make sure that all assignments are filled every day and the best way to that is to make yourself as widely available as possible. They are concerned about the lack of teachers who are certified in French. They potentially might hire a limited number of certified teachers in that area.
Yours in Federation, George
From the President George Taylor
Welcome back!
The 2011-2012 school year unofficially began with the mailing of your News & Views, your DDSB maps, your new planner, and your pocket calendar during the week of August 15th. If you didn’t receive yours, it’s probably because either I don’t have your current address or you didn’t work in Durham last year.
If you’ve had a change of address, please notify me at info@etfodotl.com as well as the DDSB at Tavares_Lacey@durham.edu.on.ca.
This year was officially launched today, September 6th, with over a hundred members gathering at the Shriners’ Club for our annual BBQ. A great time was had by all. Thanks go to Johanne Blake and John Fowler for organizing this great event.
Another launch today was that of our revised website, www.etfodotl.com. There’s lots of information posted there for you. The website is a living entity and we’re open to your suggestions. You can contact me by clicking on ‘Contact us’ right on the website and directly submitting the contact form. The main calendar, coupled with the PL calendar will keep you up to date about our many events and workshops. The school directory has been updated as of September 1st, 2011. It has several unique search features including the start times.
Prep times may again be an issue this year for daily OTs. The prep belongs to you. Questions? Problems? Please contact me immediately at info@etfodotl.com or 905-404-0411 or 1-888-665-6611. If you have been fortunate enough to obtain a LTO, do not allow yourself to be pressured to re-assign your scheduled preps when you are absent. I will be grieving all breaches to our collective agreement on these issues.
Our new ’Bill of Rights’ is on the inside back cover of both your planner and your pocket calendar and will soon be posted in ‘FYI’. Please read it. Questions? Please email or call.
And, a really new launch ………….. Follow us on Twitter @etfodotl.
Have a great year.
Yours in Federation, George
The website is a living entity and we’re open to your suggestions. You can contact me by clicking on ‘Contact us’ right on the website and directly submitting the contact form.