The theme of this year's United Nations Human Rights Day on December 10th is 'stand up for someone's rights today!'. Article 23 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to work and just remuneration to ensure that they have an 'existence worthy of human dignity.'
Yet right here in Ontario, one in three jobs is temporary, contract, part-time or self-employed. Racialized workers, single mothers, recent immigrants and people with disabilities experience higher rates of unemployment and people with disabilities experience higher rates of unemployment and precarious work. This situation creates many risks including lack of health and safety on the job, stress, long hours, lack of legal protections and poverty.
You can "stand up for someone's rights today!" by supporting the Ontario Federation of Labour's makeitfair.ca campaign. Let's advocate for the Ontario government to revise labour laws and raise the bar for all workers. Go to www.makeitfair.ca for more information.
______________________________________________________________
TVOT members are reminded to check the Board's Employee Portal frequently for updated paid professional development opportunities. Your Local has been in discussions with TVDSB Staff Development and we hope to have more news to release about exciting options for 2017. Make sure to register for Member Services at www.etfotvot.com so that you will receive "Blast Emails" about registration for such events.
_________________________________________________________________
TVDSB is working on keying schools so that Occasional Teachers can lock their classrooms in case of an emergency situation - Code Red. Approximately eight schools per week are being completed by Facility Services, but please continue to advise the TVOT Office should you encounter a school that does not offer you a key. Your OT Local does not accept the practice of asking OTs to exchange personal keys for classroom keys so please let us know should this be asked of you.
__________________________________________________________________
