It's tonight! Paid PD Opportunity; Absent EAs/ECEs; Paid Sick Leave; Provincial Conferences

 

TVOT Members Last Chance to Register

We would love to meet you at the TVOT Fall General Meeting being hosted via Zoom tonight - Nov. 24th at 5 PM.

Register by email at mail@etfotvot.com or by calling the Local Office at 519-641-3936.

You could win a new Lenova Chromebook!

Wed. November 24/21 - 5 PM via Zoom

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Earn While You Learn - Paid PD

Your OT Local is pleased to offer the online paid PD session "Inspire to Inquire" on Wednesday, December 8th at 4:30 PM.  The workshop will explore the inquiry-based learning process, student engagement and innovative thinking through hands-on learning. We will explore an inquiry approach that promotes student exploration through passion projects and Makerspace using low and high-tech tools to empower student voice.

Registration is via the TVDSB Employee Portal in Conference/Session Registrations, listed in the "Elementary Occasional Teacher PD 2021-2022."  This session is capped at 30 participants. 

Look for many new paid PD opportunities from TVDSB for the January 14th PA day with registration to open in the TVDSB Portal on December 1st. 

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TVOT Occasional Teachers and EA or ECE Absences

There is a critical shortage of EAs and ECEs in Thames Valley and so there is a problem replacing them when they are absent, Sometimes the Board may ask a TVOT member to be an additional Teacher in the room if  there is a EA or ECE absence. Please note that OTs do not do the work of other unions so on those occasions, the OT will not take on any EA or ECE duties - we are not trained for these.  Again, OTs will be an extra Teacher providing assistance in that classroom and such OTs will be paid as  a regular TVOT member that day.

Please do not hesitate to contact the office at 519-641-3936 / OT Local Office if there are difficulties.

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Ford Government’s Resistance to Paid Sick Leave

Ontario’s three temporary paid sick days are set to end however there remains a need to ensure that paid sick days are legislated so that they continue. 

London West MPP, Peggy Sattler (NDP) has proposed Bill 8 - Stay Home If You Are Sick Act, 2021 which would permanently provide 10 paid sick days with 14 additional paid sick days during public health emergencies, such as a pandemic, for all workers in Ontario. 

You may recall that one of the first acts of the Ford government was to roll back worker protections, including eliminating the Liberal government's paid sick leave - a direct attack on workers’ rights.  Even in the midst of the pandemic, the Ford government resisted calls for paid sick leave. As a result, sick workers had no choice but to go into their jobs - a contributing factor to the second and third wave of the pandemic.  Occasional Teachers are some of those workers who have had to work without adequate paid sick leave protection.

Educators recognize how the pandemic has affected students, particularly those with family members who work front-line jobs. They have been negatively affected by witnessing families struggle because of the lack of legislated, employer-paid sick days. 

It is time that the Ford government listens to front-line workers, and health and labour experts, and legislates 10 permanent paid sick days. 

We urge members to contact their MPPs and insist that they do what is right and support Bill 8. 

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What is usage-based insurance and is it right for you? 

Usage-based insurance (UBI), also known as pay-as-you-drive insurance, has recently spiked in popularity amongst Canadian drivers who find themselves driving less since the arrival of COVID-19. More drivers are looking for a way to be rewarded for their good driving habits. Wondering if usage-based car insurance is right for you? We’ve put together a guide to help break down the FAQs of UBI programs. 

Learn more at https://otipinsurance.com/article129.