Reminder of TPA Workshop

Just a reminder for those teachers who have signed up for the TPA workshop...it is this Thursday, November 1st, at the District 21 Office. Registration begins at 3:45. If you have signed up and are unable to attend, please contact Joanne at 905-574-8285.

All District 21 Members!

The Political Action Committee is hosting a workshop at the District Office on commercialization and privatization in our schools called "Drowning in Inc." on Thursday, November 22nd at 4:30pm.

Our guest speaker will be Erika Shaker (Director of the Education Project for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives).

Members of ALL units are invited to attend. Space is limited, so please call to reserve your spot. Dinner will be provided.

If you are attending the Branch President's Training on November 23-24, please do not sign up for this workshop as you will be seeing it as part of the activities on Friday afternoon. Encourage fellow members to call and sign up!

To reserve, please call Joanne Stirling at 905-574-8285.

Teachers: Meeting Reminders and Film Night

Tonight (Wednesday, October 24th) is the first meeting of this year's District Health and Safety Committee at 4pm.

Tomorrow (Thursday, October 25th) the Teachers' Unit Benefits Committee meets at 4pm.

Friday night at 6:30 is our Family Film Night. Please call 905-574-8285 and let us know you're coming so we can get the right amount of food. The fun starts at 6:30pm.

Your involvement makes us stronger!

OCTU Benefits

Members can find a complete booklet of benefits in First Class under HR Conferences under Benefit booklets. In addition, through the Internal Board WEB you can get both the summary and booklet under Departments under Human Resources under Benefits.

Employee Satisfaction and Health Survey

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board has indicated to us that they wish to gather information from our members through an online Employee Satisfaction and Health Survey. At this point in time, we do not know when this survey will be administered. However, we are advising our members that they should not fill out this survey.

Our decision is based on the following reasons:
a) The survey asks for extremely personal information, and the Board cannot guarantee anonymity;
b) A number of the questions infringe upon the process of collective bargaining, by asking our members to comment on their salary and benefits;
c) It is unclear how the information gathered will be used, as most of the questions focus on an employee’s personal health and family situation, rather than on workplace and system factors.

Again, we are advising that our members refrain from taking the survey. If you have any further questions, please contact your workplace OSSTF representative, or call your Bargaining Unit President.

Teachers' Unit - Family Film Night

The Teachers' Unit Social/New Members' Committee is hosting a Family Film Night at the District Office on Friday, October 26th at 6:30pm. The festivities should wrap up by 8:30. There will be food, drinks, and giveaways.

Please call Joanne Stirling at 905-574-8285 with approximate numbers in advance.

This is not daycare. Parents are expected to remain with their children at all times.

Direct any questions to the above phone number. We look forward to seeing you all there.

OCTU Newsletter

The October newsletter should be arriving at your school shortly. There is a link to an electronic version on the left of the webpage. There is also an electronic link to the new collective agreement.

WORLD TEACHERS' DAY

WORLD TEACHERS DAY--OCTOBER 5, 2007

Friday is World Teachers' Day, which is sponsored by Education International (EI) and UNESCO. It is celebrated in over 100 countries in the world. The theme of this year's day is 'Quality Teachers for Quality Education'.

The theme is meant to counter an increasing trend of governments to use poorly trained teachers. This fundamentally undermines the quality of education.

Quality education is the key to economic, social, and environmental progress. Quality teachers thus lead the way. October 5th is the day to celebrate teachers worldwide, but also to remind governments that they must continue to support teachers and the essential work that they do.

Happy World Teachers' Day!

Teachers' Unit - TGIF

Our annual New Members TGIF will take place after school on Friday, October 12th at the District Office.

Fliers should be coming around to your schools before week's end.

Please encourage all newer/younger members to attend. (It often helps if you bring them along with you)

This is a great opportunity to meet your Unit Executive and do some face-to-face social networking with teachers from around the district.

All teachers (including occasional) are welcome.