Opening Statement



Thursday 20 August 2015

OSSTF Reaches Tentative Deal!

Latest additions added in LARGE TYPE.  My Blogsite Acronym Guide is @ Here! 



OSSTF has reached a tentative deal after a marathon 24 hour return to the bargaining table session. The contract terms remain under wrap until the local leaders meet later this week, with a member ratification process expected to extend into mid September. OECTA is currently also at the negotiating table, with ETFO scheduled to return September 1st. OSSTF's Facebook media release is @ OSSTF

Here are the initial news reports from: 

MOE Sandals and OSSTF President Elliott are quoted @ CBC

Premier Wynne reacts @ 680

OPSBA Chair Michael Barrett considers the deal a "good step forward" but claims there is still "a lot of road to travel" @ Globe

CTV breaking news video begins the day with the story and an overview of where the other Ontario teacher unions are at @ CTV

More general overviews @ Star @ MacLeans @ National Post @ CP

OSSTF President Elliot is expected to have more to say during his "state of the union address" from the Westin Hotel in Ottawa later today @ Ottawa Citizen

Sam Hammond announces ETFO's fall WTR strategy via "live stream" [Site] with a frustrating delay verses the "live CP24 broadcast" on TV. A live stream twitter feed on the ETFO site helped facilitate the process. It seems our official union communications department are still struggling with the timely, effective use of social media, IMHO a setback from Liza M's excellent coverage during 2012-13.

Sam stuck to a hard line despite OSSTF stealing his thunder with the announcement of the tentative deal earlier in the day. Like OSSTF Paul Elliott, he stressed the difficulty of working with the OPSBA management mindset and the ETFO's frustration with the MOE stalling tactics. A copy of ETFO WTR Phase 2 was posted immediately online [but not by me!], and can be seen for info and discussion purposes on my blog below. Phase 1 and Phase 1 Update also remain in effect. See links on my blog.

Paul Elliott's address stresses difficult process with lots of roadblocks thrown in the teacher unions' way. The OPSBA management mindset remains. Local contracts still have to be settled. Special emphasis is given to the support workers. Much of the speech then focused on fighting Harper in the federal election. It was covered by OSSTF Communications with live tweets, a good early start at officially using the social media, but limited and guarded at best @ Elliott Live video coverage @ Here!

Deal apparently includes a small raise and removal of class caps taken off table @ Star

RELATED LINKS:

OPSBA initial proposal @ OPSBA

Much more Teacher Summer 2015 News + Views Links @ Here!

Teacher Free Speech 2015 Summer Contract Guide @ There!

COMMENTS?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Per cent wage increase per year?

Anonymous said...

Afraid of another bill 115 must be the only reason. I don't get it David.

Anonymous said...

If Sam Hammond accepts the offer that was given to OSSTF he should resign immediately. Don't forget Sam, OSSTF still have it better than us. They have more planning time and they get a Christmas bonus every year for the number of Spec. Ed. kids they have in there classrooms. It's now time to walk-the-walk if you are going to talk-the talk.

Anonymous said...

Interested to hear what OSSTF members think of the tentative agreement that was reached?

Anonymous said...

David, what do you think of the OSSTF tentative agreement?

Anonymous said...

Well I'll be voting no.

Look at the Police raises of 13%, municipal workers getting increases, power workers unions getting dividend paying shares of Hydro one sale - guaranteed for 17 years PLUS a negotiated raise in their latest contract?! What a slap in the face.

I don't think so. Voting yes to this is the same as endorsing the previous imposed contracts. I hope the other unions don't fold as easily as OSSTF. VOTE NO!

Kulture Kult Ink said...

I don't have enough details to decide but I just hope the union leadership hasn't grabbed some crumbs and run claiming victory. Seems kind of early after all the bad vibes from OPSBA and the MOE, and now with everything in place to really take some decisive action. See my blog on Sams speech ...

Anonymous said...

Here's the offer:
-------------------------
In the resulting agreement, there are:  

 * No strips to contract  language

 * No change to a variety of targeted clauses, including but not limited to:

        o Class  sizes

        o Assigned time

        o Additional Professional Assignments and Student Supervision

        o Extra-degree allowances

        o OT workload

All of these items continue to be governed by existing clauses in local agreements. 


We did achieve some modest improvements in the following areas: 


1. Salary

       a. No change in 2014/2015 

       b. Restoration of full grid movement as of Sept 1, 2015

       c. 1% lump sum payment to all Teacher and Occasional Teacher Bargaining Unit members for  the 2015/2016 school year

      d. 1% raise  applied to all grids, wage schedules and Positions of Responsibility as of Sept. 1, 2016

      e. 0.5% applied to all grids, rates and Positions of Responsibility allowances as of 98th day of 2016/2017 school year 

2. Family Medical Leave or Critically Ill Child Care Leave Supplemental Employment Benefit to top-up EI 


3. Sick Leave

       a. 90% sick leave days increased from a maximum 60 day entitlement to a maximum 120 days for Long Term Occasional Teachers

       b. Adoption of a standardized medical form with limits placed on management's access to medical information

        c. Expanded definition of sick leave to include personal medical or dental  appointments

 

4. Teacher Professional Judgement

        a. The inclusion of a definition of teacher Professional Judgement (as per "Growing Success" document) and recognition of its application to assessment, evaluation and reporting

         b. Teachers will be consulted regarding any changes to students' marks or grades

 

5. Hiatus on new Ministry initiatives until May 31, 2016

 

6. One additional P.A. day within the current length of school year

 

7. Benefits

      a. Memo on movement to a union self-run provincial benefits plan with funding guaranteed at 2014/2015 levels with a 4% inflationary adjustment for 2015/2016 and an additional 4% inflationary adjustment for 2016/2017.

       b. An additional $300/FTE for benefits funding once bargaining units move to the provincial plan

       c. A clause providing for further benefits funding to match any increases achieved by  the other affiliates 
---------------------

I find it insulting given that teachers now require 6 years of university education to do their jobs. More than an accountant, engineer, etc. I don't thing we need that much education - but if they say we do, pay us accordingly.

Anonymous said...

David get off the fence and give an informed opinion

Kulture Kult Ink said...

Whew! Hey dude -I'm on the road from Land o' Lakes where I have no internet. Give me a chance ....

Suffice to say anything less than status quo plus is unacceptable. This includes all the concessions that were being demanded, not just a few and a two bit raise!

The 2012-13 concessions also need to be rolled back before I would be happy.

I worry your leadership sold you out again but wait to confirm the details.

All the affiliates are mobilized and ready for action. I think you should go all the way and employ civil disobedience and a supreme court challenge if ordered back to work.

II suspect the Libs want the teachers to back off JT in the fed election and wait with baited breath to see what they do next. IMHO Elliott did talk a little to much about the election in his announcement to make me comfortable.

Just my opinion ....

Solidarity!

David C

Anonymous said...

So no raise for last year ?? So basically we r getting 2.5 percent over 3 years is that correct.please help answer

Kulture Kult Ink said...

Y'know, it sticks in my craw that President Elliott spent so much time in his announcement speech pushing the "Heave Steve" Agenda! It's very worthwhile, don't get me wrong, but I hope Wynne doesn't think teachers will now support her troubled federal neo lib counterparts in Ontario during the Oct 19 election. This needs to be clarified!!!

Anonymous said...

Just leaked oecta got same deal except 1.25 lump sum.. see torontosun.com website

Anonymous said...

Yes I read that but oecta still has grid hold back which hurts me more

Anonymous said...

Me too please! Worked for them every time.

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