TVARRIS block meetings; ETFO's position on EQAO; TVOT donations; Your right to safety at work
Now more than ever, it is important that Canadians stay informed and exercise their right to decide the future of our nation. Canada's federal election date is Monday, April 28th but there are opportunities to cast your ballot beforehand. For information regarding advance polls or other alternatives, click on https://www.elections.ca/home.aspx
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About TVARRIS Blocks
Before our Board had an automated callout system to replace absent Teachers, if a Principal no longer wanted an Occasional Teacher at the school (for any reason), they would simply direct the staff not to call that OT again. Likely the Occasional Teacher would not be aware of the conversation and might wonder why they were never called back.
With the switch to an automated system which defaults to random calls, if an Administrator wants to ensure that a certain OT doesn’t return, the Principal must ask Human Resources to block that person from receiving TVARRIS calls from their site and submit rationale. Since notice now comes to the attention of HR, the Local has argued that members have a right to know that such a request has been made so that they have an opportunity to provide their perspective. These are low-level meetings which now take place with Union representation replacing those school conversations and decisions that took place without our knowledge.
If a TVARRIS block is put in place, then any Teacher from that school trying to pre-book the OT will find that the OT is “not available”. Such requests to block typically do not go into the OT’s personnel file nor do they result in any discipline. However if the OT becomes blocked from a growing list of schools, then progressive discipline may commence.
Ultimately, most members see the wisdom in not returning to a school where Administration has lost confidence in them - there are so many other opportunities in TVDSB..
As always, please contact your OT Local for further guidance at the first sign of difficulty. We are here to support you at 519-641-3936 or etfotvot@gmail.com
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Accurate information helps ETFO members understand their rights to be safe from violence at work.
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Community Donations - If you have not recently attended a TVOT Local Membership meeting, you may not be aware that your Local donates the incidental income the OT office earns, largely from distributing insurance information to members.
This year we have donated more than $20,000 to the following organizations on your behalf:
- Merrymount Children's Centre
- Atlhosa Youth Program
- N'Amerind Family Support
- Aeolian El Sistema Music Program
- London and Area Food Bank
- Salvation Army Woodstock Food Bank
- Humanitarian Coalition
- Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
- Red Cross Middle East Humanitarian Appeal
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Registration for ETFO Summer AQ courses opens on April 22nd for courses that run from July 2 to August 1, 2025. Courses cover topics such as anti-racism, the environment, education law, diversity and inclusion, as well as FSL, Kindergarten, Math, Primary, Spec Ed, Reading etc. For more information go to https://etfo-aq.ca/catalogue/
Remember, that if you have been on the TVDSB elementary Occasional Teachers' List for at least one year and are registered on our Local's TVOT website www.etfotvot.com then you are eligible for the Local's $500 Professional Learning Development Fund which can be applied to the cost of any course that supports your elementary teaching practice. For more information contact us at etfotvot@gmail.com or 519-641-3936.
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