Thursday, September 4, 2014

Wednesday's Blog on Thursday OOPs

Welcome back to a promising new school year and to our weekly blog.

End of the 2% Penalty
As you recall, when ETFO signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Ontario on June 12, 2013, there was a provision to eliminate the 2% penalty a previous government had imposed on our members and to restore our salary to parity with the other Teacher federations, effective September 2014. Daily Occasional Teachers never experienced this penalty since the daily rate included a salary allowance (Article 7.01 of the Collective Agreement).  Long-Term Occasional Teacher Salary grids have been adjusted and the changes will be reflected on the first pay.

Vacancy on Local Executive
As your Local begins a fresh term, we find ourselves short 1 Executive member. Please consider applying for this position using the form found on our website www.etfotvot.com . This promises to be an exciting year as we embark on our first round of bargaining under the new two-tiered process legislated by Bill 122.

Designated PA Days
As a Thames Valley Occasional Teacher, you are entitled to 4 half days of paid professional development. This year, one of these days will be used for mandatory training with the required modules to be posted no sooner than April 2015. The other paid day may be used for self-directed PD so consider using October 11th or any of the subsequent TVDSB PA Days to register on the Employee Portal for Staff Development's online modules or ask the Principal if you can attend the PD offered at your favourite school that day. Forms and further details are available on the Staff Development website.