Panel Discussion: Selling Our Schools

7pm, May 12th at the Workers' Health and Safety Centre on 51 Stuart Street, District 21 PAC and the Hamilton-Wentworth Elementary Teachers' Local co-sponsor a Panel Discussion entitled: Selling Our Schools - The Corporatization of Public Education. 

This is a public event. All members are encouraged to attend. We generated some great dialogue after our panel discussion last year and are happy to share this event with our local Elementary teachers. Hope to see you there!

TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN DECLARED REDUNDANT

INFORMATION MEETING FOR TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN DECLARED REDUNDANT

There will an information meeting for all teachers who have been declared redundant at the OSSTF Office on Wednesday, May 6 at 4:00 pm. At the meeting, teachers will be given information on their rights under the collective agreement and the opportunity to ask any questions that they have. Refreshments will be served.

We hope to see you there!

OCTU Elections

We have nominations for all positions on the 2009-2011 executive, except for the following: Communications Officer.

At this point in time there will be an election for the position of Secretary (more than two people have been nominated.

Please feel free to call me if you are interested in any of these positions regardless as to whether or not we have received nominations for the 2009-2011 executive.

Thank you,

Mary Lou
(905-574-8285)

Canadian Labour Congress Labour Solidarity Campaign

As part of its campaign Get real! It’s the economy, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is working with labour councils, unions and community groups this spring to organize a series of rallies and forums in communities across Canada. The goal is to highlight key issues of the current economic crisis for labour and put pressure on the Harper government to act on these concerns. More information on the campaign issues can be found on the CLC website at: http://canadianlabour.ca/en/get-real-its-economy-make-it-work-us.
A critical focus for the campaign is employment insurance and the need for immediate
government action to fix this programme so more people who are unemployed are covered. A recent CLC media release notes that only 42.8% of unemployed Canadians were receiving EI benefits in January 2009 and this number is actually down from December 2008. The wellbeing of unemployed workers and their families is seriously affected by not receiving EI benefits, and so is that of surrounding communities and local businesses.

Listed below are some local rallies and contact person:

Toronto, ON Saturday, June 13, 2009 1 p.m.
(Rally)
Metro Hall
King Street (between University
and John Street

John Cartwright, President
Toronto & York District Labour Council
council@labourcouncil.ca
416-441-3663

Kelly Hayes
kellyhayes@clc-ctc.ca
416-725-5704 cell

St. Catharines, ON Wednesday, May 27, 2009
7 p.m.
(Town Hall Mtg)
CAW, Local 199 Hall
124 Bunting Road
St. Catharines
Bruce Allen
905-934-6233
ballen@cogeco.ca
Eddie Ste-Marie
estemarie@clc-ctc.ca
416-904-9374 cell
Kitchener, ON Thursday, April 16, 2009
1:00 p.m. - 6 p.m.
(Community Resource Event
to assist unemployed people
in the Waterloo Region)
Cambridge Newfoundland Club
1500 Dunbar Road
Cambridge
Frank Curnew or Steve Sachs
519-744-8363
Sandi Ellis, CLC Representative
sellis@clc-ctc.ca
519-854-0261 cell

Upcoming Events

Friday, April 24th - Teachers and OCTU

Family Film Night @ District Office

7-9pm - Snacks and soft drinks provided

OSSTF Families of all ages welcome

Tuesday, May 12th - All Members

Panel Discussion: Selling our Students

(The Corporatization of Public Education)

7pm @ Workers' Arts and Heritage Centre

51 Stuart Street, Hamilton

Wednesday, May 13 - Teachers

Workshop @ District Office

"Putting the Work in Social Networking"

4:30-6:30 - Dinner provided

Call the office to sign up!

THINKING OF RETIRING?

If you have made the decision to retire in June 2009, it would be greatly appreciated that you provide the Board with your retirement letter as soon as possible. This will help facilitate the staffing process, and is of particular assistance to new teachers who are at the bottom of the seniority list and who are at risk of being declared surplus in a time of declining enrolment. If you need advice on how to word your letter, please give us a call at the District 21 Office.



ATTENTION TEACHERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY COLLECTING A PENSION

The Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) and the Ontario government changed the OTPP’s re-employment provisions on Jan. 1, 2009. The re-employment limits have been extended to pensioners of all ages. Before the change, the limits did not apply to members aged 71 or older.

You can work in education without affecting your pension for up to 95 days in each of the first three school years in which you return to work (these don’t need to be consecutive years) and 20 days each school year after that.

When determining the first three school years, the following rules apply:
Any school years you worked as a pensioner before Sept. 1, 2001, are included.
Any school years you worked as a pensioner during a five-year window that allowed for extended work in education – from Sept. 1, 2001, to Aug. 31, 2006 – are excluded.
Any school years you worked after Aug. 31, 2006, are included.
For a full explanation of the rules and for advice on your personal situation, please contact the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan at 1-800-668-0105 or at http://www.otpp.com/wps/wcm/connect/otpp_en/home

Please be reminded that our OCTU Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday May 12, 2009 at St. Naum hall on Stonechurch and Upper Ottawa. This is an important year to attend since we will be holding Executive elections. At the present time we will have two vacancies on the executive: Secretary and Political Action Representative. Please give me a call if you are interested in these positions and need more information on the duties. We are also looking for new Branch Reps for next year. Branch Representatives are needed to share information with the membership.

Thank you and I hope to see you at the P.D. Day on May 1

OSSTF OPPOSES MINISTRY OF EDUCATION'S 'SCHOOL INFORMATION FINDER' WEBSITE

Members may have heard media reports regarding the Ministry of Education's 'School Information Finder' Website that went live last week. It allows the public and parents to 'shop' for schools using demographic information on each school. This information includes percentages of students from low-income families, new Canadians, non-English speaking families, and students who use special education services. Additionally, the site gives the school average of standardized test scores and compares them to the rest of the Province as a measure of 'student achievement'.

The website originally included a 'School Bag' function by which parents could place their chosen schools in a 'shopping bag' and compare them. Outcry from educational groups, including OSSTF, has resulted in this function being removed. It should be noted that all education unions, many parent organizations including the Ontario Federation of Home and Schools, the Ontario Principals' Council, and the Ontario Public School Boards Association have all spoken in opposition to this site.

We believe that this website must be fully taken down. That the government has painted standardized test scores as the sole measure of student achievement and school effectiveness is deplorable. That the government assumes that things such as immigration information and socioeconomic status are valid ways for parents to 'shop' for schools is unacceptable.

People for Education is credited with bringing this website to public attention. OSSTF encourages our members to sign their open letter to the Premier and Minister of Education.
It can be found here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=2gDbDb40viR8TodiNiXXFg_3d_3d

OSSTF District 21 will be lobbying MPPs on the issue next week. Please support our efforts by signing the letter.

In Federation
Chantal Mancini

TEACHERS UNIT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Members of the Teachers' Unit are invited to attend our Annual General Meeting on Thursday, April 23, at LIUNA Station. The meeting begins at 4:30 pm.

Members will have the opportunity to:

• Elect their Unit Executive
• Debate business that affects the unit
• Receive annual reports by Executive members
• Enjoy a catered dinner and socialize with colleagues

It is important that the largest number of members possible decide the future of our district.

There is still time to register! Call the District 21 Office at 905-574-8285.

Professional Development Funds

Most members have received their Professional Development Fund cheques to date. Therefore, the balance of cheques owing will be available for pickup, by appointment only, until April 30, 2009. Any funds not picked up by April 30, 2009 will be applied to future Professional Development activities.

Thank you,
Mary Lou