ETFO Niagara Occasional Teachers' Local: December 2008

Front Page article in The Standard!

Today's St. Catharines Standard featured a front page article about occasional teachers, featuring our very own Britiny Gentry!

Education Foundation of Niagara

ETFO Niagara Occasional Teachers' Local is a Lifetime Member of, and annually donates to, the Education Foundation of Niagara's Poverty and Emergency Relief Fund. These funds support things like breakfast programs and other areas where students may have need.

Partners for Life

ETFO Niagara Occasional Teachers is a member of Canadian Blood Services' Partners for Life program. Family and friends are also welcome to participate.

To participate, simply sign your name under our organization in the Partners for Life log book located at reception when you donate blood. Once you have received your blood donor card, you can also register online so that all your donations are automatically linked to ETFO Niagara OTs. Our Partner ID is ETFO008261.

Blood donations directly help patients being treated for cancer, during surgery, or after serious accidents. Each unit of blood donated can save up to three lives!

Donating blood is easy. It takes about an hour of your time (much of it taken up by the screening process and questionnaires), and you get served refreshments when you're done. The staff is very friendly and overall it's a very pleasant experience. More information can be found at www.blood.ca

St. Catharines Blood Donor Clinic
395-397 Ontario Street (Henley Plaza, beside Ontario St. exit from QEW)
Mondays 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Tuesdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Wednesdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursdays 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

For more information, call 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283).

Benefits

While our contract does not give us benefits, it does include $3.64 per day in lieu of benefits (Article 16.01). Unfortunately, that doesn't buy a whole lot. If in a good year you teach 100 days, that will give you a monthly budget of $30.33 for benefits, which quite frankly won't even pay half of the monthly fee for a single person to buy a very restricted guaranteed issue benefit plan.

So what are your options? If you don't have access to benefits through a significant other, you'll have to purchase your own. There are a few options here:

Purchase full benefits
Purchase a "guaranteed issue" benefit plan
Trillium Drug Program (Ontario government drug coverage)

Purchasing full benefits: A full benefit plan (medical, dental, drugs) is your best option, but there are two main caveats. First, a full benefit plan is expensive. You can expect to pay anywhere from $80-$400 per month depending on your age and whether you need single, couple, or family coverage. Second, if you have any pre-existing conditions, you'll have to disclose them on a medical questionnaire and coverage for those conditions will be denied.

Guaranteed issue plans: A guaranteed issue plan does not require a medical questionnaire, and your pre-existing conditions will be covered. Guaranteed issue plans are also relatively inexpensive, starting at about $63 per month for singles. Unfortunately, guaranteed issue plans offer very low caps on their coverage, such as $500 per year for prescription drugs. However, if you're relatively healthy, a guaranteed issue plan can give you some supplementary medical coverage at relatively low cost.

Trillium Drug Program: The Trillium drug plan is offered by the Ontario government to people with low incomes and high prescription drug costs. Depending upon your income, they establish an annual deductible, and once your prescription costs go over that deductible, Trillium kicks in and your prescriptions will only cost $2.00. You can sign up for the Trillium drug program even if you have another benefit plan; if your plan doesn't cover 100% of your drug costs, you're eligible for Trillium. Trillium is a very good option for occasional teachers who have regular prescription expenses.

Often forgotten: Travel Health Insurance

If you choose to rely on OHIP and Trillium alone, then you should still purchase a travel health plan. If you ever leave Canada, even just to cross the border for shopping, then you'd be crazy not to purchase a travel plan. Travel health insurance is very inexpensive, and if you ever experience any medical needs while outside Canada, it can easily pay for itself thousands of times over.

Unless you're planning a particular trip of a long duration, your best option may be to purchase an annual multi-trip plan. A plan offering an unlimited annual number of trips up to 15 days in duration will cost you less than a hundred dollars per year for a single person, and less than two hundred for a family.

Where to buy benefits?

You can buy private medical benefits through most banks, credit unions, and insurance companies such as Blue Cross. If you want to easily compare rates and plans, a site like Kanetix is very helpful.

Documents

Collective Agreement 2008-2012
This is your contract. Read it, know it. Keep it with you, and don't be afraid to assert yourself and insist on the working conditions we've negotiated for occasional teachers.

(Note: The typos and massively outdated terminology in our contract are not our fault; we gave a long list of errors that need corrected to the Board, and they couldn't be bothered to fix them.)

Local Constitution
Last amended at the 6/10/10 Local AGM.

Professional Development Fund Reimbursement Application Form
You can claim $200 per school year (July 1st to June 30th) towards AQ courses or other PD expenses you incur.

Career Milestones Recognition Program
Complete this form to be honoured at our Annual Meeting when you reach a career milestone.

2011-2012 Pay Schedule

Cool School Award nomination form

Local Committee Application Form

ETFO Reference Book

Welcome to ETFO Book

Foundations of Professional Practice
This document sets out the ethical standards and standards of practice for the teaching profession in Ontario.

Hidden Dangers of Electronic Communications
This is a must-read, prepared by ETFO legal counsel.

Working Conditions: Experiences of Elementary and Secondary Teachers in Ontario's Schools

2009 Transition to Teaching study

Resource Centre Inventory
We have a variety of publications in our library which you can sign out.

Occasional Teacher Evaluation Forms

OT Daily Work Record
OT Daily Work Record with sample entries

DSBN MWJHSC Terms of Reference

DSBN Workplace Violence Prevention Management Program

Poster advertising this web site - please post in staff rooms.
Occasional Teacher wallpaper for your computer.

Newsletters

More to follow... what would you like to see here?

Professional Learning and Social Events

Download the PL Reimbursement Application Form(You can use Nitro PDF Reader to fill in the form.)
Local Annual General MeetingJune 4, 2012Location: Holiday Inn Convention Centre, St. CatharinesTime: 4:30-8:30Free dinner.Important: We will be voting to approve the Local's preliminary submission for collective bargaining at this meeting. Also, if you've reached a Career Milestone, please send us the form in advance.Please RSVP to Gary@NiagaraOT.org
First Aid CertificationApril 28, 2012Location: ETFO Office, FonthillTime: 9am-5pmCost: $15.00 (includes lunch)To register, go to PD Place.Questions? E-mail Arlie@NiagaraOT.org
More than a Play: Drama and Equity for Junior/Intermediate TeachersJanuary 20, 2012Location: DSBN Education Centre, St. Catharines RoomTime: 9am-12pm (PA day)"More than a Play" resource book provided free by the Local.Limited to 25 participants.
View the workshop flyer.To register go to PDPlace.dsbn.edu.on.ca
Classroom Management for Occasional TeachersFebruary 23rd, 2012Location: DSBN Education CentreTime: 4:30pm-7:30pm$10 resource book provided to participants free of charge by the Local.Limited to 30 participants.To register go to PDPlace.dsbn.edu.on.ca
OT Christmas Party!Friday December 16thLocation: ETFO Office, FonthillTime: 5pm-10pm, just drop in!Food, beverages, board games, music, and a chance to socialize with your colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere!
Collective Bargaining Information and Planning Sessions November 24th and December 12thLocation: Armstrongs (next to Tim Horton's at Prudhomme's Landing)Time: 4:30pm-7:30pmBring paper, a copy of your collective agreement, and be prepared to participate! RSVP to Gary@NiagaraOT.org Conversational English Sessions 9Jan, 12Jan, 16Jan, 19Jan, 24Jan, 25Jan, 30Jan, 1FebLocation: ETFO Office, FonthillTime: 4:15-5:15pmCome out and practice your English! Internationally Trained Teachers' MeetingNovember 15th, 2011Location: ETFO Office, FonthillTime: 4:30-5:30pmCome out and discuss the challenges facing teacherstrained outside Canada and/or in another language.Refreshments provided. Fall General MeetingNovember 8, 2011Location: Johnny Rocco's, 271 Merritt Street, St. CatharinesTime: 4:30-8pmDinner provided. Please RSVP to Gary@NiagaraOT.org
New Members' Meeting October 13th, 2011
Location: ETFO Office, Fonthill
Time: 4:30-6:00pm
Guest speaker Maureen Weinberger, ETFO Provincial VP
Refreshments provided.

Provincial Election Information SessionSeptember 8, 2011Location: CAW Hall, 124 Bunting Rd. St. CatharinesTime: 3:30pm - 6pmFree admission, food, refreshments, live entertainment.ETFO Provincial President Sam Hammond will be present,as well as Presidents of other education unions in the province.Event Flyer (PDF)

Stay tuned for more PL opportunities and social events!
DSBN workshops (posted in staff rooms) are open to occasional teachers. You can register for them by visiting PD Place.

ETFO Credit Courses

Download the PL Reimbursement Application Form
(You can use Nitro PDF Reader to fill in the form.)

PL Inquiries: Arlie Brown

Community Legal Education Ontario
Human Rights Legal Support Centre
Workers' Action Centre
UCS Online Labour Books Catalog
CLC Ontario This Week

St. Catharines Public Library
St. Catharines Museum
Hinterland Who's Who Animal Information Database
Virtual Museum of Canada
National Library of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia

Sitesforteachers.com
FreeRice.com - Vocabulary game that feeds the poor
The Earth Charter
Bruce Trail Conservancy
Tree Canada
Pembina Institute
Bullfrog Power
Greenlearning.ca
Zero Footprint
Kiva.org - micro-lending to third-world countries
Discovery.com's Teacher Page
Family Literacy Day Website
Canadian Blood Services

OpenOffice.org - Free office suite (word processor, spreadsheet, presentations, etc.)
Mozilla Firefox - Web browser
Tor Anonymous Browsing Software Truecrypt On-the-fly Hard Drive Encryption
Skype Internet Phone
Pidgin Instant Messenger (ICQ, MSN, Jabber, AIM, Yahoo, etc.)
Tweetdeck for Twitter
VLC Media Player
7-Zip Archiver for .Zip files
Ubuntu Linux - Free operating system (replaces Windows, can boot from CD)
Edubuntu - Ubuntu Linux customized for educational uses.
Free as in Freedom: Philosophy of the Free Software movement
OpenSource.org - explains what free, open-source software is all about.

E-mail Groups

Mark's One-Page Guide to Using Yahoo Groups (PDF)

Subscribing to each of our discussion lists is a simple three-step process:

1. Type your e-mail address in each box below.
2. Click on the "Join Now!" buttons.
3. When you receive your confirmation e-mail, simply click Reply, Send.

That's all there is to it!

NOTE: Non-DSBN e-mails only! DSBN e-mail addresses will be removed, as our employer monitors e-mail.

Newsletters

March 2012 Newsletter
September 2011 Newsletter - CENSORED
May 2011 Newsletter
March 2011 Newsletter
December 2010 Newsletter
September 2010 Newsletter
May 2010 Newsletter
Spring (April) 2009 Newsletter
November 2008 Newsletter
Fall (September) 2008 Newsletter
April 2008
January 2008
November 2007
Spring 2007
Winter 2007
Fall 2007
Spring 2006
Winter 2006
Fall 2005
Spring 2005

Contact Info

Executive Members

President: Gary Anderson (gary@niagaraot.org)
Vice-President: Arlie Brown (arlie@niagaraot.org)
Treasurer: Mark Carter (mark@niagaraot.org)
Secretary: Kim Arndt (kim@niagaraot.org)
Sharon Laine (sharon@niagaraot.org)
Sharon Ethier (sharonethier@niagaraot.org)
Shideh Houshmandi (shideh@niagaraot.org)

Additional Contact Information

Office address:
2601 Highway 20 East, Units 5-6
Fonthill, Ontario L0S 1E6

GPS: 43.05615N, 79.25863W

Emergency legal assistance: 1-888-838-3836
Office: (905) 892-0270
Fax: (905) 892-3309
DSBN Courier: ETFO Occasionals

Legal Assistance for Members

The Federation provides legal assistance to defend members against allegations that are related to the member's teaching duties or employment responsibilities.

If you are contacted by the police, Ontario College of Teachers, or Children's Aid Society (CAS) regarding an allegation against you:

- Do not participate in or consent to an interview.
- Make no statement to anyone regarding the allegation/charges.
- Say "I am willing to cooperate but I am unable to comment until I contact the Federation and legal counsel."
- Call ETFO professional relations staff at 1-888-838-3836 or 416-962-3836 and state that your call is urgent.