PAY and SALARY 

I'm a POR and get extra pay.  How is that pay determined?  The Ministry of Education sends a set amount of money to the Board each year that is designated for Position of Responsibility (POR) renumeration.  Under the Collective Agreement, that allocation is to be fully used for POR pay.  The amount of pay is determined on a level system based on the number of sections that is under the area that the POR is responsible for.

Why is my January paycheque so small?  This is actually an annual occurence primarily due to CPP and EI deductions starting up.  This is compounded by our January payment of the Ontario College of Teachers fee.  This year it is even further compounded this January's increase in the Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan.

Ontario College of Teachers fees; how much are they and when do I have to pay them?  According to the OCT website, for 2010, the fees will be $120.  If you are currently in a teaching assignment, the OCT fees will come off your pay in one lump sum, usually on the January 15 pay.  However, if you are on any kind of unpaid leave, including maternity or parental leave, you must pay the OCT fees early in the new year or else you may be suspended from the OCT for non-payment of fees.

BENEFITS

What Benefits am I entitled to?  Members need to refer to the Benefits Booklet for a detailed list of benefits coverage and amounts.  If members have any questions, they can call the Secondary Benefits contact at the Board office.

I'm a part-time teacher.  How does that effect my Benefits coverage?  Under the Collective Agreement (Article 8.01.01 - 2008 to 2012 Agreement), part-time teachers must assume the prorated cost of being part of the Benefits Plan based on their employment status (i.e. .667 teacher must assume .333 of the cost to have access to the Plan).

LEAVES

I'm going on a leave and my POR term expires while I'm on the leave.  What happens to my POR?  The term of your POR will end when it is supposed to.  You may apply for the same POR position, or any other POR position that comes up during your leave that you are interested in applying for.  However, it is incumbent upon the member to apply for those POR positions when they are posted.  The employer is under no obligation to inform you about the postings while you are on leave; that is the responsibility of the member.

ACTING ADMINISTRATOR

What happens to my status as an OSSTF member if I accept an Acting Administrator position?  Article 27 (C.A. 2008 - 2012) covers Acting Administrator language in our Collective Agreement.  Under that Article, to be classified as an Acting Administrator, the term of that position may not be less than ten (10) consecutive working days, and not more than 194 consecutive working days.  During that time, the member will be removed from the Bargaining Unit and not pay Union Dues.  Also, their seniority will be "frozen" during the term of the Acting Administrator position.  Members need to read the Article carefully for more details and are strongly encouraged to contact District Office if they are considering taking an Acting Administrator position.

TEACHER-IN-CHARGE

Can I be forced to be a Teacher-In-Charge for a day at my school? NO.  In Article 27.01, it states that, "No teacher shall be a teacher-in-charge...".  However, we do have a Letter of Understanding in our current Agreement that provides conditions for a Teacher-In-Charge to exist in an "emergency" situation.  The TIC would be a voluntary position and there are some provisions outlined in the Letter of Understanding.  

HEALTH AND SAFETY

I've been injured at work.  What do I do?  If you have been injured at work, report the injury to administration as soon as possible.  You will need to fill out a WSIB Form #6, even if you do not miss any time from work.  The administration will also fill out a form of their own, as will your attending physician.  We always advise all members that if you have experienced an injury at work to visit a doctor as soon as possible.  Not doing so could result in no compensation being provided to you by WSIB if symptoms related to the injury are shown at a later time.  Go to our "Important Articles" section on our Homepage and see our "Injury at Work" article for more details.