IMPORTANT PENSION PLAN VOTE

PENSION PLAN VOTE TO TAKE PLACE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2008

Pension Plan Vote Procedures


All members who pay into the Teachers’ Pension Plan are eligible to vote on the Ontario Teachers’ Federation/Ontario Government proposal to address the OTPP funding deficit. This vote will take place on Thursday, September 25, 2008.

Your Branch President has been provided with ballots and instructions to conduct the vote.

NOTE:
1. All eligible Long-Term and Short-Term Occasional Teachers who are currently on assignment at a school on the day of the vote may cast their ballot at their school/site. Those who are not currently on assignment may vote at the OSSTF District 21 Office. (Note: Retired teachers who are currently in receipt of a teacher’s pension are not eligible to vote.)
2. Teacher Bargaining Unit members working at the Education Centre will vote at Sir John A. Macdonald between 8:30 am and 1:00 pm.
3. Teacher Bargaining Unit members working at the James Street Alternative Education Centre will vote at the Alternative Education Centre.
4. Teacher Bargaining Unit members working at Crestwood will vote at Crestwood.
5. Teacher Bargaining Unit members working at the Detention Centre will vote at the Detention Centre.
6. Teacher Bargaining Unit members working at a Community Facility other than the Detention Center should vote at the nearest secondary school or the District 21 office.
7. Continuing Education Teachers who do not teach regular day school must vote at the District 21 Office, 1423 Upper Ottawa St. Unit 2 between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm.
8. All Teacher Bargaining Unit members working at other HWDSB sites (e.g. Memorial, Maple Lane, etc.) may vote at the closest school or at the District 21 Office.


IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR REQUIRE ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE DISTRICT 21 OFFICE AT 905-574-8285.

WHMIS/CRIMINAL OFFENCE DECLARATION

Attention: Permanent OCTU Staff Members

WHMIS/CRIMINAL OFFENCE DECLARATION Compliance information was e-mailed to administrators and managers September 3rd, 2008. Please note the deadline for completion is OCTOBER 24, 2008. If your administrator/principal/manager has not given you the instructions for this process please contact them NOW to get the password so you can complete these documents. When you have completed the test, be sure to print off the documents which prove you have successfully completed the WHMIS/OFFENCE DECLARATION on time.

What can we do about OTPP?

Dear Colleagues:

The issue of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan valuation was widely discussed at our Teachers' Unit Council this week. It has also been a topic of discussion at other committee meetings and during school visits. We hope that you have been following the issue through Provincial Office mailings, Insight 21, and this website. Members have strongly indicated to us that they wish to take local action on this issue.

You will soon be receiving lobby/petition sheets in your school that we would encourage all teachers to fill-in and sign. These sheets send a strong message to politicians that we are unhappy with current pension legislation and the conservative method used to valuate our pension plan.

All completed sheets will be hand-delivered to Ted McMeekin and Sophia Aggelonitis, Liberal Members of Provincial Parliament, on Tuesday, October 7th's OSSTF Lobby Day. In addition, your release time officers will be contacting local opposition party MPPs in order to bring the issue to their attention. Finally, if needed, we will be asking individual members to send emails to their local MPPs. This information, when needed, will be available in October.

We strongly urge you to stay informed and educated on this issue and encourage colleagues to fill in the sheets. It is essential that all teachers are aware that the future benefits and costs of their pension could be at stake.

Your Branch President will be asked to collect all sheets and return the package to the District Office on or before October 2nd. If you are unavailable at your school during the time period your Branch President is collecting these sheets, or if you are someone who is part of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and is retired, or not currently at a board worksite, you can download one here and drop off or mail it to the District Office.

If you require further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at 905-574-8285.

Yours in federation,

Chantal Mancini, President
Anthony Marco, 1st Vice President
Carl Chopp, Chief Negotiator

Website Update

Over on the right side of the page you'll now find a linked resource section. Included are links to pieces of legislation on education, health and safety, and pensions.

If there is something else you would like a link to in that column, please send an email with the information.

WELCOME BACK!

Welcome back to a new school year to all of our members. We wish everyone a smooth startup. We look forward to serving the members of District 21 in the 2008/2009 school year.

Labour Day 2008

Thanks to everyone who came to walk the route with District 21!