volume 18 number november - tect.org tect 2018-11.pdfqeco updating – potential salary increase....
TRANSCRIPT
VOLUME 18 NUMBER 2 NOVEMBER 2018
President’s Message On behalf of the TECT Executive, I wish members and their families all the best as we deal with what has been a most demanding beginning of the year for members. Rest assured, the TECT Executive will continue to fully support our teachers.
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. Helen Keller
Patricia Minnan-Wong
I have never witnessed a year with so many staffing changes and ongoing reorganization. This has impacted negatively on the working conditions of our members and the learning conditions of our students. Our teachers are to be commended for their professionalism, extraordinary efforts and an unwavering commitment to the students. As stated on numerous occasions, TECT is objecting to the unilateral actions of the Board and is contending that the TCDSB is violating many sections of the Collective Agreement. TECT is filing policy grievances and members have come forward to file individual grievances. If members believe that they have been disadvantaged by the actions of the Board, they should contact a TECT Release Officer to discuss possible remedies.
It is unfortunate that the leadership team at the Board has adopted, what TECT believes, is a unilateral top-down approach to governance. This approach has damaged the working environment in schools and is not conducive to creating optimal learning conditions for students. TECT will continue to seek out avenues to achieve positive outcomes with the Board. However, this top-down approach is not ideal for fostering positive relationships with the Association and with our members.
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TECT extends special thanks to
our Association Representatives for all
their efforts in supporting TECT, as
we work together with the
membership, to deal with the
alleged numerous staffing violations of the TCDSB.
Toronto Elementary Catholic Teachers Executive
Patricia Minnan-Wong
Anthony Bellissimo
Julie Altomare-
DiNunzio
Elaine Hileman
Deborah Karam
Louisa DeCiantis
Carmelo Piccione
Robert Bauer
Trinka Brine
Gabriella Figliano
Carol-Anne Miller
PRESIDENT
PAST PRESIDENT
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT
THIRD VICE-PRESIDENT
TREASURER
RECORDING SECRETARY
COUNCILLOR
COUNCILLOR
COUNCILLOR
COUNCILLOR
TECT Remembrance Day Wreath
sign up through this link.
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In This Edition
President’s Message Remembrance Day Wreath TECT Office SupportIL SchoolsAdministering MedicationParent Teacher Interviews
Inappropriate Behaviour Related WorkShort Term Sick Leave TECT AdvisoryDeferred Salary Plan/Benefits Earned Leave Plan/BTCParent Teacher Interviews Teacher EvaluationSign up for Email - Essential Interim CertificateLeave of AbsenceQECO UpdatingUpcoming Events
TECT President Patricia Minnan-Wong laid a wreath on behalf of TECT members at the Sunrise Remembrance Day Ceremony at Prospect Cemetery, on November 11, 2018.
TECT OFFICE SUPPORT Members are asked to use the following information to contact TECT:
International Languages (IL)
• Teachers should contact TECT if there are any issues regarding IL. In terms of the new electronic reimbursement form, TECT is involving the arbitrator as the Board has not fulfilled the settlement, given that the electronic form is not available to members.• Members should track all missed time so as to ensure they are fully compensated.• Teachers are reminded that they should not stay in the classroom when the instructor is delivering IL.• When calculating time-in-lieu at IL schools, a fullday is recorded as 270 minutes (minus the Planningand Evaluation Time on the day in which time-in-lieu is being utilized).• Direct any questions from parents regarding the ILsurvey to your Principal.
TECT NOTE: Any member, who believes that his or her workload is being impacted by the dispersal of students, unfilled absences or the cancellation of classes, should contact TECT to discuss possible remedies.
ADMINISTERING MEDICATION TECT has been informed by members that they have been directed by principals, nurses, or parents, to administer medication. TECT members are reminded of their Collective Agreement rights:
Subject to a teacher’s reservations, teachers shall not be required to administer medication or perform any medical or physical procedure on a pupil with the exception of administering an EPI pen.
If you are being directed to administer medication in a manner that violates your rights, please contact a TECT Release Officer.
PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS The Board is imposing an interview schedule on TECT members. TECT is not in agreement with the Board and is attempting, through the grievance process, to determine if the Board has the right tocompel a schedule on teachers. This matter will not be settled prior to November interviews. Interview time should not exceed 300 minutes.
INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOURMembers continue to inform TECT that they are being treated inappropriately by parents, and in some cases by their administrators. There is zero tolerance for behaviours such as being yelled at, intimidated, made to feel unsafe, or demeaned in any way. As teachers, you work tirelessly to ensure a safe environment for your students. You deserve no less. The law and Board policy ensure you a safe and respectful workplace free from any form of harassment. If youhave been subjected to, or believe you are at risk of being subjected to such behaviours, contact the TECT Safe Schools Officer, Robert Bauer at [email protected].
RELATED WORK EXPERIENCEThank you to Deborah Karam, TECT Third Vice-President and Anthony Bellissimo, Teacher Welfare Officer, for conducting a very informative in-service on Related Work. Thank you to all the members who attended. The deadline for submitting the application form is November 15, 2018. Any questions regarding Related Work Experience should be directed to Deborah Karam at [email protected].
Patricia Minnan-Wong (President) mobile: 416-834-6838
email: [email protected] Julie Altomare-Di Nunzio (First Vice-
President) mobile: 647-835-6838
email: [email protected] Deborah Karam (Third Vice-President)
mobile: 647-994-6838 email: [email protected]
Anthony Bellissimo (Teacher Welfare Officer)
Mobile: 647-967-6837 Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Robert Bauer (Safe Schools Release Officer) Mobile: 416-834-4919 Email: [email protected]
Victoria Hannah (TECT Labour Consultant) email: [email protected]
Carm Piccione (TECT Release Officer)Email: [email protected]
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Short Term Sick Leave Plan (SSP)
For members accessing the Short Term Sick Leave Plan (SSP), it is recommended that you seek the advice of Julie Altomare-DiNunzio at 647-835-6838.
Disclosing Medical Information to the TCDSB–AdvisoryMembers are advised to contact TECT before disclosing any medical information or providing medical documentation to the TCDSB (employer). It is not advisable, nor a requirement, to discuss medical issues with principals and vice-principals. If you are contacted by the TCDSB during your medical leave, please inform Julie Altomare-DiNunzio at 647-835-6838, before taking any action.
Deferred Salary Plan and Benefit Coverage
Members participating in the deferred salary plan, are reminded that under the OECTA Provincial benefit plan, benefits are not covered during the deferred salary year. For example, if you are on a four-over-five deferred salary plan, to continue benefit coverage, you will have to pay the premium for the fifth year when you are not at work. Please contact OTIP at 1-866-783-6847 to determine your benefit costs, if you plan to continue your coverage.
Earned Leave Plan
Simply log in and click on the ESS (Employee Self-Service) icon. You may review the ESS Memorandum links provided. To access your current statement, click the link titled: Earned Leave Plan Statement 2018 2019. Contact Deborah Karam at [email protected] for further information.
Increase in BTC
Members wishing to increase their Basic Time classification (BTC) should immediately contact Anthony Bellissimo at [email protected].
Teacher Evaluation If you have any questions regarding the teacher evaluation process, you are advised to contact TECT. Also, contact TECT immediately if any of the following occur: you are being evaluated outside your five-year cycle and/ or you receive, or believe you may be receiving, an Unsatisfactory or Needs Development rating.
Essential that you sign up for email TECT is moving away from providing hard copies of documents to members and Association Representatives are no longer being asked to forward emails to members. Therefore, it is essential, if you have not already done so, to add your name to the TECT and Provincial OECTA email list(s). Contact Deborah Karam (at [email protected]) who will facilitate this process. Members are asked to visit www.tect.org and follow TECT on twitter @TECT951. TECT always welcomes suggestions on ways to improve communication with members.
Parent-Teacher Interviews-TIPSAs parent-teacher interviews approach, TECT offers the following suggestions: i) attempt to begin the interview with positive comments; ii) ask an administrator to sit in on the interview, if the parent has demonstrated aggressive or unprofessional behaviour in the past; iii) terminate any interview where the parent is behaving inappropriately; iv) take notes during all interviews, and if you agree to a course of action, make sure you follow up; v) seek the advice and support of colleagues; vi) do not mention other teachers, other parents or other students during an interview; and vi) contact a TECT Release Officer, if you need immediate assistance during the evening(s) or during the day of interviews. TECT Release Officers will be available. In this litigious age, TECT reminds members to maintain a professional and business-like demeanour during all interviews. TECT has been involved in meetings where our members faced possible discipline for their alleged conduct (based on a parental/student complaint) during parent-teacher interviews.
Interim CertificateAny member on an Interim Certificate is asked to immediately contact a TECT Release Officer.
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UPCOMING EVENTS • Wednesday, November 14, 2018 (5:00 pm)
General Meeting: Resolutions
TECT Office• Saturday, November 24, 2018 (9:30 to 11:30
am and 1:00 to 3:00 pm)Breakfast With SantaYou must be registered to attend
• Thursday, February 28, 2019 (5:00 pm) General Meeting: Direction to AGM Delegates Sala Caboto
• Friday, March 8 to Monday, March 11, 2019 Provincial OECTA AGM, Ottawa, Ontario(Applications already sent through TECT email system)
• Thursday, May 1, 2019 (5:00 pm) General Meeting: TECT AGM
TECT Office
QECO Updating – Potential Salary IncreaseTECT continues to encourage members to take courses for upgrading purposes. Upgrading categories can significantly increase the salary you may earn during your teaching career. To determine which courses you need to complete to upgrade your category, contact QECO at 416-323-1969 and/or obtain additional information through the QECO web-site at http://qeco.on.ca/. You may also contact Deborah Karam at [email protected] for assistance.
TCDSB upgrading forms can be obtained on the TCDSB intranet. As well, please review Article 3.07 and 3.08 of the Collective Agreement:
3.07 A teacher who before the beginning of any school year has met all the conditions required for a higher placement or other salary adjustment due to annual or special allowance is entitled to the appropriate adjustment in salary retroactive to September 1 of that school year. Any teacher is entitled to the adjustments in salary referred to above if the teacher has completed and has delivered to the Human Resources Department by November 30 the appropriate year’s Category Upgrading Form and has submitted proof of qualifications by June 1, of the school year for which the adjustment is to be made. 3.08 A teacher who before January 1 of any school year has met all the conditions required for a higher placement or other salary adjustment due to annual or special allowance is entitled to the appropriate adjustment in salary retroactive to January 1 of that school year.
Any teacher is entitled to the adjustments in salary referred to above if the teacher has completed and has delivered to the Human Resources Department by March 31, the appropriate year’s Category Upgrading Form and has submitted proof of qualifications by June 1, of the school year for which the adjustment is to be made.
Please Note These Deadlines: Related Work Experience Application
Form: Thursday, November 15, 2018 OECTA AGM Application Form:
Thursday, November 15, 2018 (4:30 pm) Changes to TECT By-laws:
Monday, March 18, 2019 (5:00 pm)
Return to Bargaining Unit for Permanent Teachers
Members should be aware of the following from the Collective Agreement:
In addition to any other applicable leave provisions, any teacher shall be entitled to a board-approved unpaid leave of absence to work at another District School Board in Ontario or any o iy e s t t p
ther employer. Leaves will be granted inncrements of half-year (semester/term) or full-ear, as requested by the teacher, but shall notxceed twenty-four (24) months. Such teacherhall return without loss of seniority withinhe local bargaining unit. Application forhis leave shall be made prior to March 1 of thereceding school year.
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