We usually get questions when a member believes there may be some language in the contract which will clarify a position - and the fact is that many questions are not answered easily by the contract. One which was easily answered recently was regarding our duties and responsibilities at lunch time. The answer is found in Article D.22 which was fought for and achieved in previous negotiations. We went on strike to get that language. When I started teaching many years ago, teachers were assigned duty at lunch and principals often called meetings at lunch time. Not all locals were successful in their attempt to ensure teachers had a lunch free of school responsibility, but this contact was. We inform members that they do not have to attend meetings or duty at lunch times, unless it is an emergency.
Seems simple - but what if the member informs the union that members at the school agreed to come to the meetings? The contract speaks clearly again, members cannot break the contract. It is an agreement we have signed, and just as we do not want the employer to break the contract, we do not want members to break any conditions in the contract.
Does that mean teachers cannot meet with each other and discuss professional issues? No, we do that all the time. What we cannot do is decide as a group to ignore the language - it makes it very easy for the employer to argue we do not need that language. Would any of us like to have the employer argue we need noon hour meetings, and since teachers agree to meet at lunch time anyways, we can just eliminate the language? We need to be very clear that we will not agree to organize or participate at lunch time meetings with the employer which deal with student or classroom issues -we risk losing the right to a duty free lunch if we do. If you believe we should negotiate the removal of this clause, and want to have lunch hour time as part of your duties, please bring that suggestion to the Special General Meeting on Feb 21, 2013. Something tells me it will be a lively conversation.
