PVNCOECTA.CA – PVNCOECTA Catholic teachers union

Welcome to the PVNC OECTA Website

Hello Members!

We are at that time of year again that seems to slip by quicker then normal. Probably because the weather is getting nicer (I hope), daylight is getting longer, and we are so busy we blink, and the month is a 1/3 gone!

We have been out on many pizza visits; the message Andy and I have been making a point of spreading is be prepared:

1. Know what is going on by following Provincial, Andy and my emails.

2. Get the message out to friends, family and neighbours what is really going to happen if these changes take place.

3. Write a letter, set up an appointment and discuss concerns of proposed changes.

4. Get involved to keep up the pressure of sending a message to the government that these changes are not good for our students!

5. Start putting money aside in case there is job action, so you are prepared.

At this point we do not know what is going to happen for certain. We do not have a crystal ball, but the actions of the government are showing they will make regulation changes to suit their agenda.

As the summer approaches we will know more of what the government actually plans to do, and that information will get out to the members in a timely fashion. As you may or may not know our contract expires August 31, 2019. The process of negotiating depends on actions of parties involved. A new contract is never ready the day after an expiring one, so a process is involved in creating a new one. Let’s hope that all sides bargain in good faith. Just be prepared because knowledge is power.

In Solidarity,

Kelly

Unit President

Important Dates/Notices

Election for OECTA PVNC Unit President.

Dates for Regional Meetings of Candidates:

April 23 – St. Stephen Secondary, Bowmanville

April 25 – St. Catherine Elementary, Peterborough

April 26 – St. Mary Secondary, Cobourg

April 29 – St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary, Lindsay

All meetings start at 4:30pm.

Candidate Bios:

Kelly McNeely***Click here for details!***

Stephen Morgan***Click here for details!***

Practice Election April 23rd, 2019

Election May 1st, 2019

Staff Reps Meeting***NEW DATE*** Wednesday, April 24th 12:45 pm @ Clarington R.C. Legion Hall, 109 King Street E. Bowmanville

PVNC OECTA @ Blue Jays vs White Sox Ball Game, Saturday, May 11th, 2019. ***Click here for details!***

OTIP Retirment Workshop Thursday, April 11th, 2019 Best Western Cobourg 4:30pm - 7:30 pm ***Click here for details!***

PVNC OECTA Golf Tournament The Quarry, Ennismore, Saturday, May 25th, 2019. ***Click here for details!***

Check out the Members Section ***NEW*** Safety Concern Form

Poster

Occasional Teachers

Your President is Clare Armstrong and she can be reached on her cell at 705-768-3067. You can also email her at oectapvncotbu@gmail.com

PVNC OECTA Facebook Feed

OECTA PVNC shared a post.

9 hours ago

Information is vital in the unfortunate and ongoing “war” of words between Ford, his government and members of the education sector. Please see the pics & link attached.

In the past couple of weeks, my colleagues and I have been:

**Erroneously accused of not being able to pass a math test (Note: we were NEVER given a math test. None of us. Ever. Period.);

**Misinformed that the government is increasing education spending *Note:
– Our system is being funded below the rate of inflation,
– About $400million a year from the education budget will be used to fund a new child care tax credit, which translates to that much less money for actual classrooms;

**Told that 30000 new daycare spots would be created in schools over the next five years. (Note to Kindergarten teachers: this should be a huge red flag for the existing FDK program);

**Scolded and warned not to do any “strike stuff” before we actually engaged in the collective bargaining process with the government (Nice!);

**Bashed by Ford in a rant about pensions, benefits and how we have a “good gig” before being disingenuously praised for our great work at the end of said rant;

**Accused of being part of a “broken” education system that needs an overhaul (Note: it’s far from broken. It’s not perfect, but it still ranks as one of the best systems in the world. No overhaul needed.);

**Lied to about not experiencing job loss as a result of larger classes by Ford and the Minister of Ed.;

**Called “whiners” by Toronto Sun reporter and Conservative Party mouthpiece, Brian Lilley, whose news publication is tabloid trash written at the Gr. 6 level.

**Falsely accused of starting a “war” with the Ford government as soon as they were elected, when it was the government that angered parents, students and teachers by increasing class sizes & cutting funding;

I could go on, but the above examples of targeted & unfiltered attacks on our profession by Ford & co. are enough to tell me one thing: our efforts to educate the general public and bring awareness to the real damage Ford’s govt will have on the education system are working and people are listening!

More people who understand the effects of his devastating cuts to education and other valuable services like Autism Ontario, healthcare, paramedics, WSIB, Poverty Ontario, OSAP, Legal Aid, the list goes on…are realizing that Ontario’s most vulnerable people will suffer most.

This isn’t the Ontario people want. A crumbling social infrastructure and impending privatization of services isn’t what people voted for, regardless of how Ford tries to spin his mandate. We need to continue to educate and show the public what Ford’s cuts look like in real time.

Ontario has always been open for business; it’s up to us to make sure it’s not for sale.

www.knowmore.ca …