Voting closes Friday; Columbia Store Invitations; New Language Curriculum; Mental Health Support; LTOs and OCT Fees

IMPORTANT

Voting for ETFO's Tentative Teacher / Occasional Central Agreement closes at 8 PM on Friday, December 15th. Go to https://etfocb.ca/ for more information. 

Negotiations for our Local Collective Agreement, are scheduled to  resume in the New Year.

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ETFO Provincial is pleased to share member-developed resources to support the implementation of the new 2023 Language Curriculum.  A series of webcasts and sample lesson plans are available to provide an overview of the curriculum, with a focus on Strand B. They can be found by logging into ETFO secure https://members.etfo.ca/resources/classroom-resources/overview-of-the-2023-language-curriculum-webcasts.  They are also available on the ETFO Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/etfoprovincial. 

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TVOT members in a LTO assignment at the beginning of January, automatically have their Ontario College of Teachers' (OCT) fees deducted from their pay. Their paystub in the TVDSB Employee Portal will show this deduction. 

The annual membership fee of $200 is due January 1 of each year for all certified Teachers though OCT will maintain your good standing so long as payment is received before April 17th. Please note that OCT charges a late payment fee of $130 on top of the $200 annual fee should a Teacher miss the April deadline.

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#1 - Invitation for TVOT Members

#2 - Invitation for Friends and Family of TVOT Members

Support (including mental health support) is Provided by TVDSB to All Employees -

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Should you opt out of Direct Compensation Property Damage coverage?

Soon, Ontario drivers will have a new option to restrict coverage in the event of a collision - the option not to claim damages.

In December 2022, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) announced that Ontario Policy Change Form (OPCF) 49 will give drivers the choice to opt out of Direct Compensation Property Damage (DCPD) coverage.

Under OPCF 49, you can agree not to be compensated by your insurance company or anyone else, including anyone at fault for causing the damage or their insurance company. But what does that mean?

Read more at www.otip.com/article173. #OTIPUpdate

Ratification Vote and Town Hall on Tentative Central Agreement; Lost Prep Time; LTOs and Report Cards;

 

• December 11th will be your chance to hear the details of the tentative Central Teacher / Occasional Teacher Collective Agreement as Provincial ETFO will be holding evening telephone Town Halls. For more details go to https://etfocb.ca/teacher-occasional-teacher-tentative-central-agreement/teacher-occasional-teacher-tentative-central-agreement-frequently-asked-questions/
• Provincial ETFO is conducting a study on the needs and challenges experienced in their first five years. The Local encourages new members who receive the invitation from ETFO to participate in the Survey Monkey so that the provincial office can better support you in your new career. The survey closes at 9 AM on Monday, December 18th.
• Should an Administrator ask you to use your prep period to cover a class etc., the Local encourages members to keep track of the date, the school, the time of the scheduled prep period and the number of minutes that were lost. In previous years, the Local has negotiated payment for such lost time so we ask that members please advise the Local at etfotvot@gmail.com so we can track if the problem is systemic again this school year. Remember - a right gained, is never a right secured. We must all remain vigilant.
• If you are in a LTO assignment with an undetermined end, then you need to wait 90 calendar days in order to become eligible for benefits. For more information go to https://etfo-elhtbenefits.ca/faqs/
• Article L35.00(iii) states: When a long-term occasional teaching assignment is completed prior to the required date for report cards to be submitted, the Occasional Teacher may be assigned to assist with the completion of these report cards. In such an event, the Occasional Teacher shall be paid for the time to complete the report cards up to a maximum of one (1) day. The rate of pay shall be the rate the Occasional Teacher received during the long-term occasional teaching assignment.

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The top 8 things that should be on your ‘end of the year financial to-do’ list

If you hold any kind of investments, have children or grandchildren, or turned 71 this year, this is one list you might want to bookmark. While it may not be filled with elaborate gifts or delectable treats, taking care of the items on this list will provide you with the financial peace of mind to make you merry not only during the upcoming holiday season—but also in the years to come.

 Here are your top 8 financial ‘to-dos’ before the end of the year:

 #1: Consider making TFSA withdrawals by December 31st.

If you were thinking about withdrawing from your Tax-Free Savings Account in the next few months to pay for home renovations, car repairs, or other big-ticket items—you might want to consider taking that money out by December 31st. Otherwise, if you withdraw funds from your TFSA after January 1st, you wouldn’t be able to re-contribute that money until the following calendar year.

#2: Get those RESP contributions in by December 31st to maximize the CESG.

While you can contribute to a Registered Education Savings Plan anytime (within 31 years of opening it), maximizing your contributions before the end of each calendar year has one very specific benefit—getting the most from the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). That’s where the government chips in up to 20% over and above your annual contributions.

Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3QSUZsF

Brought to you by Educators Financial Group. Helping the education community, and their families, achieve their financial goals since 1975. Book your complimentary consultation today: https://bit.ly/3sWAWRW.

On December 6th, we remember - 

Join us next week! Upcoming Town Hall and Voting; Becoming a LTO;

 

Doorprizes include 3 Gift Cards of $100 each!

All members are invited to attend our upcoming Fall General Membership Meeting on December 6th at 4:30 PM.

Enjoy a lovely festive banquet dinner prepared by the chefs at the Stoneridge Inn, 6675 Burtwistle Lane in London. 

Take this opportunity to meet other Occasional Teachers as well as your Local TVOT Executive. 

Members attending will receive $15 as gas compensation!

Call 519-641-3936 or email us at mail@etfotvot.com to register.

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On Thursday, Nov.23rd, members received the documents for ETFO's 2022 - 2026 Tentative Central Agreement for Teachers/Occasional Teachers.  

ETFO Provincial will be hosting two Telephone Town Hall meetings on Monday, December 11th. The first begins at 6:30 PM and the second will begin at 8:00 PM.

The online vote to ratify this tentative Teacher/Occasional Teacher Central Agreement will open, following these meetings, at 9 PM on December 11th and close on Friday, December 15th at 8 PM.  

Vote results will be announced approximately an hour after the vote closes. 

If you are not receiving these communications from ETFO, then be sure that your contact information is up to date by emailing memberrecords@etfo.org

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• An assignment becomes a LTO on the 10th consecutive day of replacing the same absent Teacher in the same assignment.  
• As an LTO, you are eligible for salary that reflects your qualifications, however the onus is on you to provide the Board with a QECO / Qualifications Rating Statement or a card indicating your rating is in progress, prior to July 31st for retroactive adjustment.  Note that the process can take several weeks.
• To obtain a QECO Rating, follow the instructions at www.qeco.on.ca or call QECO at 1-800-385-1030 and request an application form.
• Your rating is personal so it is up to you to sent the results to TVDSB Staffing Officer, Jessica Grison Roeder - j.grisonroeder@tvdsb.ca before the July deadline or forward a copy of the green QECO confirmation card if your application is in progress but will not be available by the due date.
• You may also be eligible for credit for post-certification teaching outside of TVDSB. This includes working as a daily OT in Ontario. The same July 31^st deadline applies to proof of any post-certification teaching experience, outside of TVDSB so be sure to submit those documents to HR so  they will be considered when advancing you on the LTO salary grid.

For further details contact your ETFO TVOT Local  at etfotvot@gmail.com .  

TVOT Holiday Banquet; Merrymount Appeal; Tentative Deal Reached by ETFO Provincial; Upcoming Conferences for ETFO Members

It's our TVOT Holiday Banquet on December 6/23 from 4:30 - 7 PM at the Stoneridge Inn, 6675 Burtwistle Lane, London

You could win one of three $100 gift cards!

Enjoy a free dinner which includes - 

• Mixed green salad
• Roasted turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce
• Garden penne with tomato sauce
• Medley of seasonal vegetables
• Garlic mashed potatoes
• Assorted desserts and beverages

All members attending will receive $15 for gas compensation.

Please note that TVOT annually collects donations to Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre at this meeting. Merrymount is an accredited children's mental health centre supporting the wellbeing of the children we teach across Thames Valley.

This year's donation wish list includes:

• waterproof insulated gloves and mittens
• bubble bath, shampoo and conditioner
• brushes, combs, ponytail holders and toothbrushes
• pajamas and items for older children
• new or gently used winter jackets, boots
• snow sleds, boogie boards etc.

Register by email - mail@etfotvot.com

Register by phone - 519641-3936

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Still time to participate in the Ontario Survey about Harassment and Violence against Educators in Ontario. Here is the link -  https://uottawapsy.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3kMOhVp9rd8l9no

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Earn While You Learn - Nov. 17th Paid PA Day; ETFO's Winter 2024 Session of AQ Courses; Violence and Harassment Against Educators Survey and Anti-Bullying Week.

November 17th Paid PA Day 

Some spots are still available for Friday's sessions. For full details and to register, log into the Board's Employee Portal > Conference Session Registration > and then click on "Elementary Occasional Teacher PD".  Earn a half-day teaching salary on the November PA Day by participating in one of TVDSB's paid PD sessions.

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ETFO's Winter 2024 Session of AQ courses (developed by Teachers) begins in January. Visit https://etfo-aq.ca/ for the full catalogue of opportunities.

November 15th is Wear Purple Day. Help to raise awareness for abused women and girls, and let them know they are not alone. For more information about this campaign visit https://www.lawc.on.ca/shine-the-light-on-woman-abuse-campaign

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In Ontario, Anti-Bullying Week begins the third Sunday of November each year.

Earning Salary on PA Days; No First Duties; Lost Prep Periods; Be in the Know;

 

Did you know you can earn a half-day teaching salary on the November PA Day by participating in one of TVDSB's paid PD sessions? Workshops cover topics such as Behaviour Management, Primary Reading, Teaching French without FSL and Math. For full details and to register, log into the Board's Employee Portal > Conference Session Registration > and then click on "Elementary Occasional Teacher PD". 

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- Are you aware that your Collective Agreement does not allow daily OTs to take a supervisory duty prior to the start of class on the first morning of an assignment or, if it is an afternoon assignment, before that first afternoon of the assignment? This was negotiated because both the Board and the Union agree that daily OTs need this time to prepare. TVOT members who ignore this clause of Article L18.03(a) not only violate their Collective Agreement, but make it more difficult for the rest of us to take advantage of this provision.

- Remember that the Education Act requires all Teachers to be present in the classroom at least 15 minutes before the start of class in the morning, and at least 5 minutes before the start of class in the afternoon.

- Union representation for OTs/LTOs comes from the TVOT Local Office. School Stewards represent the permanent Teachers at that site and do not know your Collective Agreement. Never hesitate to contact your TVOT Local - we are your support.

- For purposes of Employment Insurance, each day is reported as 8 hours.

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Daily Occasional Teachers are to follow the timetable of the Teacher they are replacing, with the exception of no first duties before the first day of a daily assignment or first afternoon of an afternoon assignment.  OTs are to cover the other assigned duties; we are to receive the scheduled prep periods of the absent Teacher. Should an Administrator ask you to use your prep period to cover a class etc., the Local encourages members to keep track of the date, the school, the time of the scheduled prep period and the number of minutes that were lost. In previous years, the Local has negotiated payment for such lost time so we ask that members please advise the Local at etfotvot@gmail.com so that we can track if the problem is systemic again this school year. Remember that a right gained, is never a right secured - we must all remain vigilant.

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Want to keep abreast about ETFO OT/Teacher bargaining? Register for updates at https://members.etfo.ca/login?returnurl=/ 

Want to know what is going on in your own OT Local? Register at www.etfotvot.com

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Winter Tire 101

It’s no secret that getting from point A to point B in the middle of a Canadian blizzard can be tough. Thankfully, there’s one simple step you can take towards a safer winter drive: installing a set of quality winter tires.

Read more at www.otip.com/article171. #OTIPUpdate

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May We Never Forget Those Who Have Given Their Lives For Us.

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ETFO Violence Work Refusal Checklist; Know Your Rights Video; Using Sick Leave Correctly; Central Bargaining Bulletin 10; ETFO Women's Workshop

Learn how to use the above "Violence Work Refusal Checklist" and hear about ETFO Provincial's Multi-Year Strategy to address the violence we face in our classrooms, by logging into the Secure Site of www.etfo.ca and listening to the October 25th ETFO Town Hall.

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Sick Leave Absences -

It is extremely important that LTOs enter their absences correctly as errors may be interpreted by the Board as acts of fraud. 

The Collective Agreement only allows sick leave to be used for:

- personal illness, injury, clinical tests, hospitalization, emergency dental or reasons certified by medical/dental practitioner

- up to 5 days/year as care days for LTO to care for a child, parent or spouse

- up to 3 days/year as act of nature days if a LTO is unavoidable absent because of a local act of nature between their home and worksite.

For other absences, contact your TVOT office or check Article L10.00 of your Collective Agreement.

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Raising awareness and funding for men's health issues such as prostrate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention -

- from Trent University

November is Financial Literacy Month

Pay grids. Pension contributions. Deferred leaves. These are all factors unique to education members. And each of these factors plays an important role when it comes to your overall financial journey.

This month, take time to empower yourself and invest in your own financial wellbeing. By being financially literate, you can better manage life events such as buying your first home, having a child, or retiring early.

Check out these upcoming events and educational resources to help strengthen your financial literacy and make more informed decisions about your money:

·         NEW First Home Savings Account (FHSA) resources:

o   FHSA 101 on-demand webinar: https://bit.ly/3QbbJea

o   A step-by-step guide: Using a First Home Savings Account to help you save for your first home: https://bit.ly/46LwILJ

·         Walk into Retirement with a Plan – sign up for upcoming workshops and webinars in collaboration with OTIP: https://otip.my.salesforce-sites.com/wrpen/

·         Financial literacy newsletter – get educator-specific tips and resources straight to your inbox every month, plus your chance to win a $50 gift card: https://bit.ly/3Q6ptqK

Brought to you by Educators Financial Group.