Strike Vote Dates and Times

The following was sent to all TTOCs on the email list, and to all staff reps for posting and distribution at schools.  Please be sure to exercise your democratic rights by voting on this very important issue:

Re:         Strike Vote – By Secret Ballot

                Special General Meeting – March 5, 2014

  

The BCTF Strike Vote will be conducted as follows:

Advance Poll:   March 4, 2014

                             8:30 am – 5:00 pm

                             CVTA office - 1001 Railway Blvd

Regular Poll:    March 5, 2014 at Special General Meeting

                             3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

                             Erickson Room – Creston Recreation Centre

Regular Poll:    March 6, 2014

                             8:30 am – 5:00 pm

                             CVTA office - 1001 Railway Blvd

The wording of the ballot:

                             Are you in favour of a strike?

                             YES                                         NO

InnoviCares Information

We have received information regarding cards which will help a small number of members pay the difference between the cost of generic Drugs and the cost of a brand name drug.

While innoviCares offers a drug card that covers almost 100 brands, and is constantly expanding its list, there is also help for a small number of members whose particular brand name medication may not be covered by the innoviCares card. One good source is RxHelp at https://rxhelp.ca/en/default.aspx, which offers “patient assistance” cards for some medications and some companies that innoviCares does not yet represent. As well, if members can’t find their medication at innoviCares or RxHelp, they can Google the manufacturer of their brand name drug and may be able to find a manufacturer’s drug card that will work for them.

In all cases these drug cards are free and generally pay the difference between the cost of the generic drug and the cost of the brand name drug. The drug cards are accepted at pharmacies province-wide, and can be used with your PBC pay direct drug card at time of purchase.

For further information or advice visit the innoviCares website at www.innovicares.ca/bctf.

Court Ruling

We last spoke the day after Justice Griffin"s ruling - there was happiness and joy throughout the province.  Since then, the government has begun the appeal process and there has been media and conversations daily.  We are providing links here to information for members to peruse about the ruling specifically, and hope to post soon our newly restored language.  Stay tuned, meanwhile for your enjoyment and better understanding:

Links

• Read the full judgment here. 
• Get the facts straight. Evidence to challenge the Ministry of Education news release on decision to appeal BC Supreme Court ruling (Feb 6, 2014)
• In the media 
• BCTF President Jim Iker’s opinion piece in The Sun (Jan 29, 2014) 
• BCTF news release (Jan 27, 2014)
• Selected quotations from the decision  
• Slide presentation: Selected quotations from the BC Supreme Court ruling  
• BCTF President responds to news of government appeal 

Ratification Vote

We are very happy to report that the ratification vote for the new local language was successful.  This means that any new Articles agreed to by the employer and the union are now in effect.  We outlined the language for you at the General Meetings.

Primarily, the largest changes the members should ensure occurs are the time frame negotiated regarding the length of staff meetings and the right to the representation for members in meetings with the employer.

Staff meetings should not last more than 90 minutes following the dismissal of students at the school where members work.  Staff reps should discuss this with the principals to ensure we are compliant with the language.  Our bargaining contemplated the fact that this should not result in more frequent staff meetings - agendas are to be posted one week in advance, which should allow time for organization of topics.

Members should also note the new language around representation - we have negotiated language which entitles them to request union representation at any meeting with the employer.  Principals need to be given notice if you have asked a union representative to accompany you to a meeting.

The union is making a presentation to the employer on establishing an LBGTQ policy on Tuesday, February 4th - Karin Hawkins and myself will be endeavoring to finally see the policy in place.  We had negotiated language agreeing to meet to develop this policy.

We will try to blog about other language in the next few weeks, and ask that the language is drafted into the resource section of our webpage - please call the office if you have any questions.