Upcoming membership meeting re Bargaining; Friday PD Day opportunities; Requirements to remain on OTE List; The Board's email accounts

Collective Bargaining may seem to be a  process that comes and goes (with much hype) every few years, this being one of them. Be aware however that your TVOT Collective Agreement affects each member, every working day. It offers protection of our rights as employees of TVDSB and it is legally enforcable.

School Board's Collective Bargaining Act: Since 2014, there have been two separate bargaining tables and so there are two separate parts to each ETFO Collective Agreement.

1) This is the ETFO Provincial Office in Toronto and it is this office that conducts bargaining at the Central Bargaining table with the Provincial government and the Ontario Public School Boards Association. You can find out more about this process at etfocb.ca

2) Here is your TVOT Local Office in London and it is this team that negotiates with TVDSB for the Local Terms of your Collective Agreement. Register at  etfotvot.com to keep abreast of local bargaining, and email mail@etfotvot.com / 519-641-3936 to attend the June 20th meeting that decides what items to take to the table (see below).

TVOT Bargaining - Local Preliminary Submission

- DATE: Tuesday, June 20/23

- TIME: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

- PLACE: BMO Sports Centre at 295 Rectory Street in London

- PURPOSE: Vote on the proposals your collective bargaining team plans to negotiate with TVDSB

- FOOD: Sandwiches, salads, sweets, drinks

- REGISTRATION: mail@etfotvot.com / 519-641-3936 (TVOT members only) 

To Remain on the OTE List for TVDSB, you must:

- Teach at least 10 days in an elementary site

- Pay your annual OCT fee by April 15th

- Complete the Annual Offence Declaration

- Complete the 15 Mandatory Modules online

- (no word that WHIMIS is needed this school year)

- Notify TVDSB of any changes to your contact information

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1) Still spots for in-person paid PD (half-day pay for each session): "Understanding Sex Trafficking" on Friday, June 2 in the morning or the virtual morning sessions: "Exploring the Kindergarten Document" or "No Day Plan, No Problem". Register in the TVDSB Portal.

2) If you are teaching (as either a daily OT or a LTO) at a school when the Steward calls the meeting with staff to discuss ETFO Central bargaining, please know that you are also invited to attend (TVOT members are part of the same Central bargaining table as permanent Teachers).

3) Those in LTOs have until July 31st to send HR their QECO rating and proof of any previous teaching experience. The onus is on you so check your pay stub to see that you are not being paid daily rate!

4) All TVOT daily OTs and LTOs must complete the 15 mandatory online training modules by end of school, June 30th.

5) Deadline to complete paid PD online (with reflection forms) is June 30th.

6) Use a personal email address when communicating with the Union/Local. TVDSB's email belongs to the Board and is not private.

Last Call $60 Rebate; Pickleball Social; Earn more than $400; Mandatory Modules

 

This is the last week for TVOT members to apply for their $60 Resource Rebate. Forms are available to those who are registered as members at www.etfotvot.com . Purchase a book or resource related to your elementary teaching professional needs and the Local will reimburse you up to $60 for purchases made within 60 days of the claim. (receipts required)

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Pickleball Social Event

There is still time to register. Come on out to our first ever Pickleball Social. Learn to play this popular game with your TVOT colleagues in a fun, relaxing environment. No experience is required! Dress is casual wear - running shoes. 

Pizza, drinks and racquets will be provided (but please bring your own raquet if you have one.)

When: Saturday, June 3/23

Time: 12 pm to 3 pm

Where: True North Courts, 3392 Wonderland Road, South - Bldg 2, Unit 6 in London

Cost: Absolutely free

Due to space limitations, registration is required. Email us at mail@etfotvot.com to reserve your spot. Mention any dietary restrictions if required.

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Why Leave Money on the Table?

Did you know that every daily TVOT member and those in LTOs less than .5 FTE, can earn salary by participating in PD activities? Are you aware  that this counts towards credits for EI, days worked for the Board and Teachers' Pension and that each session equals a half-day of pay?

Log into the Employee Portal, and click on the Conference / Session Registration icon. Find "Elementary Occasional Teacher PD 2022-2023" and click "Register". 

Options are available for the June 2nd PD day.

Other sessions listed for Friday, June 30th can be done at you convenience anytime before that date (including weekends and evenings). 

Payment is triggered on receipt of Staff Development processing your reflection form.

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June 30th Deadline

All TVOT members (daily and LTOs) must complete the mandatory 15 modules listed in the Employee Portal, by June 30th in order to remain on the OT List.

Log into the Employee Portal, and click on the Employee Training icon. Close to the bottom, you will find 15 modules listed as 2022-2023 OTE Training, starting with "Violence Awareness & Handling Violent Situations" and ending with "Automated External Defibrillator".

Click "Submit" after each completed module. If the check mark remains the next time you log back into the system, then completion has been verified.

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Remedy payment; Track Lost Prep Time; Deadline for $60; Pickleball Social; Bargaining; Earn While You Learn; TVOT Executive for 23 -24

 

Eligible TVOT members will receive their Bill 115 Remedy settlement, negotiated by ETFO, with this week's pay.

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Lost Prep Time Grievance Remember to keep track of any lost prep time (dates, school, number of lost minutes etc.) The Local is very hopeful of reaching a settlement with TVDSB soon so that TVOT members are compensated for this lost time and violation of our Collective Agreement.

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Deadline is May 31st

Apply now for your $60 Resource Rebate!

Application Forms available for members registered at TVOT Local Website www.etfotvot.com

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Pickleball Social Event

As the end of a long year approaches, TVOT recognizes the need to gather for a fun social activity. Come on out to our first ever Pickleball Social. Learn to play this game with your TVOT colleagues in a fun, relaxing environment. No experience is required! Dress is casual wear - running shoes. 

Pizza, drinks and racquets will be provided (but please bring your own raquet if you have one.)

When: Saturday, June 3/23

Time: 12 pm to 3 pm

Where: True North Courts, 3392 Wonderland Road, South - Bldg 2, Unit 6 in London

Cost: Absolutely free

Due to space limitations, registration is required. Email us at mail@etfotvot.com to reserve your spot. Mention any dietary restrictions if required.

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How to Stay in Touch With ETFO Central Bargaining for Teachers/Occasional Teachers

Provincial ETFO uses many ways to keep members up to date with the most current bargaining-related news. Those ways include:

- central bargaining bulletins;

- the Collective Bargaining eNewsletter;

- a specialized collective bargaining website www.etfocb.ca

- a member-only Facebook Group for bargaining https://www.facebook.com/groups/ETFOCB managed by ETFO Provincial.

ETFO also uses phone calls, texts and mail via Canada Post to keep members informed and engaged in the bargaining process.

To keep you in the loop, ETFO needs your current contact information (address, phone numbers, email) on file.

Update Your Contact Information with ETFO

If you aren’t receiving ETFO emails (like the Collective Bargaining eNewsletter) or correspondence at home (e.g., Voice magazine), email ETFO’s Member Records Department at memberrecords@etfo.org and provide your current contact information.

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Still Looking to Earn your Extra Three Half-Days of Pay?

Register in the TVDSB Employee Portal for these OTE paid PD opportunities: 

May 19th Options:

- Indigenous Education: Essential Knowledge

- Interactive Coding from K - 8

- No Supply Plans? No Problem

- Implementing the Essentials Conditions for Learning Foldable

- Equity, Anti-Racism and Culturally Relevant and Responsive Pedagogy Best Practices

- Supporting Multi-Lingual Learners

June 2nd Options:

- No Day Plan, No Problem: A look at different activities you can do with a class using technology

- Already Ready - Supporting Early Writing: Based on the text of the same name. Learn how to make connections with the Kindergarten program expectations and your own practices. Participants will receive a copy of this book.

- Exploring the Kindergarten Program 2016 Document: explore the core beliefs and learn how to support teaching, planning and inquiry within the Four Frames.

- Understanding Sex Trafficking and Why it Matters: Increase your knowledge and understanding with resources and lessons aligned with Health and Physical Education curriculum.

- Teaching Literacy in a Pinch (sessions for both primary and J/I classrooms): explore a variety of resources and instructional  strategies/activities you can use in a pinch.

June 30th Options include Spec Ed., Literacy and Math options which can be completed anytime prior to the end of the last day of school.

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What education members need to know about the new First Home Savings Account

Thinking about buying your first home? Good news. The new Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA), designed to help qualifying first-time home buyers save for their home, is here. So, how exactly does this new account work and how can education members leverage it to save for their first home?

Read on to learn more about the FHSA and why you should consider opening an FHSA, even if you’re unsure about buying a home: https://bit.ly/41YyS7T. Brought to you by Educators Financial Group.

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  Thanks to all the many members who joined us last evening for our Spring Annual Meeting and Banquet!  We appreciate your support and it was a pleasure sharing this lovely evening with you.

Announcing TVOT Executive 2023 - 2024 -

President/Chief Negotiator: Terry Card

First Vice President: Kevin Utley

Second Vice President: Vivek Nath

Treasurer: Nancy Springer

Secretary: Sharon Pinylo

Health & Safety Officer: David Griffith

Executive Members at Large:

- Meera Jain, Gabrielle Lovo, Farida Makhani, Krisanne Nunes

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Last Chance to Register for TVOT Annual Banquet; Updates Prep Pay-back, Retention Stipend, Bill 115 Remedy; Registering Student Attendance

 

Lots of Your Colleagues are Coming 

Hope to See You Too!  Members register by phone: 519-641-3936 or by email at mail@etfotvot.com

- Retention Stipends were paid out last week so check your paystubs.

- Those eligible for Bill 115 Remedy payouts will receive their non-taxable payments soon!

- Only a few weeks left to get your $60 Resource Rebate! TVOT members log in at www.etfotvot.com to apply.

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NOT IN AGREEMENT: Prep Time Payback

At this time, TVDSB has not agreed to pay daily Occasional Teachers for lost prep periods when they assume the timetable of the Teacher we are replacing. 

Be assured that your TVOT Local has filed a grievance asking for proper  compensation for our members.

Please continue to track instances where your prep time has been taken away: Date, School, Number of lost minutes etc.

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Having Difficulties Entering Attendance? 

Some of you might be experiencing difficulty accessing the Board’s student attendance software (TheSIS) when in an assignment. If you have not been successful at logging-in from the TheSIS Icon with either your personal ID or the school’s generic log-in, you might try logging in from the TVDSB Employee Portal.

Please try the following steps:

1.      Log-in to the Employee Portal

2.      Look to the right and you will see the Thesis blue logo > click on it

3.      You might be prompted log into your Board Outlook account, please do so

4.      This brings you to the TVDSB SharePoint site

   At the top of the screen (in the blue area) is Employee Links, with a drop-down arrow. Click the arrow and then click "thesis Login". This should give you access to the attendance software and class roster(s) assigned to you for the day. 

Mandatory Training; Retention Stipend Payment; Bill 115 Remedy Payment; TVOT Spring Banquet; Mandatory Training for all OTs/LTOs; TVOT Bargaining; Upcoming Retirement Workshop

 NB: All TVOT Daily Occasional Teachers and LTOs

June 30, 2023 is the deadline to complete the 15 modules listed in the Employee Portal, and under "Employee Training" on the right top, as "2022 -2023 OTE Required Training. "

Be sure to click on each module when you complete it and hit "Submit". If the check mark is there the next time you log back in, then it has been received as completed.

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Check Your Pay -

This pay - Those TVOT members who fufilled requirements listed under the terms of the Retention Stipend, will find the one time payments included in this Friday's pay.

Upcoming - Those ETFO members who were eligible for payment under the ETFO Bill 115 Remedy, should receive this within the next 2 pay periods.

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Your TVOT Spring General Meeting and Banquet  - It's Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 4:30 pm at the Lamplighter Inn in London. Those who register and attend will receive a $15 gas card and will have a chance to win a new Chromebook or one of two $100 gift cards. Register at 519-641-3936 or mail@etfotvot.com 

We'd love to see you there!

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Bargaining for Elementary Occasional Teachers 

Many of you have received the updates from Provincial ETFO regarding bargaining at the Central Table, where ETFO negotiates for defined items with the government and the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA).

Your TVOT Collective Bargaining (CB) Team has been working on the preliminary submission that we will use when bargaining for local issues with TVDSB and there are several steps to that process:

- After considering the results of our  membership survey and considered local priorities, the CB Team presents a Preliminary Submission to the TVOT Executive for their approval.

- After that, the Preliminary Submission, is sent it to Provincial ETFO for their okay to proceed.

- At that stage, the Preliminary Submission is ready to be presented to the membership at an in-person meeting for the approval of those who attend.

- Once that has been received, the Local CB Team is ready to begin negotiations with TVDSB.

Register at www.etfotvot.com to keep informed!

6 ways to make better use of your tax refund

Another tax season is in the books, and for many of you, it may mean getting a refund on money paid in taxes. In fact, just over half of the 31 million tax returns filed in 2022 received a refund, at an average amount of $2,176. But, before you rush out to spend it, consider how you can put it to work to enhance your financial future.

Here are 6 ways to make much better use of your tax refund: https://bit.ly/40J5eT4. Brought to you by Educators Financial Group.

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