Occasional Teachers' Bargaining Unit News updated May 03, 2013

Declared Candidates for Unit Positions

President	Jean Smylie
President	Michael Kerr
Vice-President	Lesia Teply

Recording Secretary	Teresa Kolk

Councillor	Lisa Bartnik
Councillor	Karen Maisonville
Councillor	Sherron Ritz
Councillor	Roman Vynyarchuk
Councillor	Valerie Longo

The following section of the By-Laws pertains to nominations at OTBUnit Elections:   Procedure 1 - Elections  #7  No additional nominations will be accepted from the floor for the posted positions, unless a position has no nomination

LTO Roster

CONGRATULATIONS to all those who were placed on the LTO Roster.  There are LTO and permanent positions posted on WebTracs' Internal Job Opportunities NOW!  It is recommended that you visit the site daily as individual jobs will only be posted for 5 weekdays.  You should apply to any or all jobs that you are interested in and qualified to teach.

Download the LTO Roster in seniority order

OTBUnit Executive for 2012-2013:

President                      - Jean Smylie (2nd year of her term)
Vice President               - Lesia Teply
Treasurer                      - Mike Farrugia 
Recording Secretary       - Teresa Kolk
Councillors                    - Karen Maisonville, Sherron Ritz, Lisa Stokaluk-Bartnik, Roman Vynyarchuk

	PRESIDENT	Jean Smylie (2nd year of her term)
	VICE-PRESIDENT	Lesia Teply
	RECORDING SECRETARY	Teresa Kolk
	COUNCILLORS	Karen Maisonville
		Sherron Ritz
		Lisa Stokaluk-Bartnik
		Roman Vynyarchuk
	TREASURER	Michaell Farrugia

 

In The Loop - Bulletins 

The Bulletins will continue to be the source for future communication with members.

OECTA handbook for 2012-13

Download the 2012-13 OECTA handbook here.

Unit BY-LAWS & PROCEDURES

Read the Occasional Teacher Bargaining Unit By-Laws and Procedures for 2011-2012.

AGM 2013

OECTA’s AGM 2013 was held at the Westin Harbour hotel in downtown Toronto.  My experience there can only be described as riveting. It was indeed an eye opener filled with complex terminologies and formal parliamentary jargon that took a while to grasp and understand. At times I felt like I was at sea, drowning but having just enough energy to surface, take a breath and remain floating for a while. However, once as I got the hang of the proceedings, a new meaning was realized. It was indeed an honor to be chosen to represent the occasional teachers of the DPCDSB.

Generally speaking, the experience was filled with excitement, humor, dinners, support for candidates, and freebees that were well worth it. The highlight of my experience through was the ability to vote for the incoming executive as well as vote for laws and bylaws that affect us as occasional teachers. Having a voice in the room surrounded by 650 teachers from all over Ontario meant the world to me. Finally, for once in Canada I got the chance to vote for who I wanted to represent me, and to look after the security and well-being of my vocation, my calling, my job, teaching. 

The Provincial Executive for 2013-2014 is:

President – James Ryan, Toronto Elementary Unit

Past President – Kevin O’Dwyer, Dufferin-Peel Secondary Unit

1^st Vice President – Ann Hawkins, Dufferin-Peel Secondary Unit

2^nd Vice President – Warren Grafton, Waterloo Unit

3^rd Vice President – Marcie Tombari, Huron-Superior Unit

Treasurer – Chris Karuhanga, St. Clair Elementary Unit

Councillor – Andrew Donihee, Eastern Unit

Councillor – Elaine McMahon, Ottawa Unit

OTF Table Officer – Julie Pauletig, York Unit

 

The experience was breathtaking filled with formality which took my breath away. The words, order and privilege rang out in the room constantly every day. Suddenly amidst the long lines at the microphones the sweet sound of “call the question” echoed and was embraced as a breath of fresh air.  I have never been in such a formal setting that ran so well. Filling a room with over 650 teachers from different boards across the province and getting started on time seemed unimaginable, but it started without a hurdle and proceeded without disturbance and hesitation. One thing was very clear though, Dufferin-Peel was well represented and appeared to be one of the most popular and vibrant boards present.  I felt so proud.

I was very impressed with the speeches that were delivered by the Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Minister of Education, Liz Sandals. They both seemed to have a clear idea of what the teachers wanted and needed as well as the hurdles that they face in achieving this. They seemed to be very supportive and vowed to have in the future, beneficial discussions with OECTA’s executive to ensure that the needs of OECTA’s members are met. Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was also very feisty in her delivery of her speech. She fired away at the Premier emphasizing that nice words are not what teachers need but: “they have needs and they must be met”. It is also obvious that she was fully aware of the demands of the profession.

Two very important epiphanies for me were voting for keys for all occasional teachers especially when the safety of the students during lock down procedures is taken into consideration. The second was the dissemination of information to OECTA’s members before it reaches the media when negotiations agreements are reached.

It was truly a fascinating experience filled with learning, insights and knowledge that I can confidently say that I have gained through this experience. My world view had now changed when it comes to the battles that the executives fight for us on a daily basis. I have gained new respect for them, the process and likewise the entire organization that we call OECTA.

I hope to be part of this eye opening experience next year when I can confidently approach the microphone and resoundingly echo, Mark Samai D-Peel Elementary or Secondary, and no longer an occasional teacher, first time at the mike - “call the question”.

Don't Assume your Pay is Accurate!

Don’t assume your pay is accurate simply because it was generated by a computer. An occasional teacher’s pay is particularly prone to problems because you are not paid a regular bi-weekly salary.
You must rely on the school to “verify” the teacher’s absence and their teacher replacement before the payroll deadline date, in order for you to be paid for the assignment. You need to track your days worked and check each pay to confirm that you were paid correctly. At the bottom of your Pay Statement, you will find the dates you are being paid for with the corresponding full day (1.0) or a half day (0.6) beside each date.
If you find that you are missing pay for a day or half day, call Sonia Lindo-Diogo, Payroll Dept. at the Board office. You should also call the Dufferin-Peel Occasional Teachers' Bargaining Unit (OTBU) office  to inform us so we are aware of any widespread inconsistencies. Mistakes do happen and if you don’t find the error and report it, you will miss out on the money.

Available for work, not called?

If you have been available to work but not called,

Please email  dpotbunit@gmail.com the following information:

1. Your employee number
2. Your start date as an OT
3. Are you an elementary only, secondary only or elem/sec Occasional Teacher?
4. Schools you are willing to teach at according to your profile.
5. Grades/subjects, along with specialty subjects, you are willing to teach at according to your profile.
6. Dates you were available to work but not called.
7. Every month all you will need to do is to email Jean only the dates you were available but not called.

Thank you for your co-operation regarding this request. It will assist the Dufferin-Peel Occasional Teachers' Bargaining Unit (OTBU) if we know that uncertified persons are working when you are sitting at home waiting for a job.

A word of caution:  Accepting ERW positions

If you accept a job replacing a teacher, and that job is not available or cancelled, you should not go home. You should remain at the school and be re-assigned for the original assignment duration. Article 15.01 states should this occur, occasional teachers will be given occasional teaching duties. Occasional teachers should not accept ERW positions as OECTA will not assist you should you be the subject of an allegation while replacing an ERW. You may also be paid the “uncertified” hourly rate.

Transportation of Students

The Board has recently revised their General Administration Procedure (GAP) 801 on transporting students in one's own personal vehicle. The Local strongly advises you to refrain from transporting students in your own vehicle. If you drive students in your own car, your personal insurance is accessed until it is exhausted. It would adversely impact on your insurance rates, threaten your career, and expose you to damaging litigation.
Both OECTA and the Ontario College of Teachers have issued professional advisories of the professional risks for teachers who transport students in any vehicle.