HEY, WEREN'T YOU ELECTED IN 2018? WHY AREN'T YOU STILL ON THE EXECUTIVE ?
Yes, I, Laura was elected in 2018. Due to interviews (I am an OT who actually works in the schools and seeks LTOS) I missed 3 consecutive Exec meetings and could and legally was removed
in January 2020 as per Bylaw 2.3.2. I was at that time on day 7 of what turned out to a 15 day LTO. Since I wasn't yet at day 10, nor did I know about that LTO in advance, I couldn't ask the school for time release which is usually needed at least 2 weeks in advance (as the school and board need to approve it)
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WHY WERE YOU NEVER ANSWERING THE PHONE WHEN WE CALLED THE OTBU OFFICE ?
Not all Executive Members are awarded office days (which are time release days) to answer the phone or do other assigned duties.. At the time of my removal from the OTBU executive in January 2020, I was the only present executive member who did not have release time for office days to answer the phones.
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WHY DID WE STILL SEE YOU SUPPLY TEACHING IN THE SCHOOLS ? AREN'T ALL EXECUTIVE MEMBERS FULL TIME RELEASE ?
I was not chosen for release time. I am not in receipt of a pension, nor do I hold another job. Occasional teaching is how I make a living. I don't get pre booked at schools, so I take wherever I get a call from so you do see me at many schools supply teaching.
To my knowledge, I was the only member of the 2020 fall executive to be seeking daily, LTO and even permanent work in the schools. So if others have time release days, or hold other jobs, or have a limit on days due to pension, you may not see them out supplying in the schools, or see as much of them there. I like working everyday if possible.
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IF YOU WERE A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE, HOW COME YOU DIDN'T REPRESENT MEMBERS ? OTHER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS HAD MEMBER REPRESENTATION LISTED ?
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I am trained in OSSTF member representation. In fact I've take the OSSTF course twice, (a second time at the request of the Executive at Summer Leadership 2019) I even presented the notes at my first OTBU executive meeting. I would gladly represent members, if possible. If you didn't ask to have me as your representative or I wasn't chosen to, I would have never known you asked. (I was asked to take notes twice in 2020 , but on one date already had a prior committment, the other was simply too short a notice to cancel a day of supply teaching and get to the other side of town for 3:30pm after school) If I am re -elected and given enough notice to cancel supply work, or get a release day, I'm happy to represent you. I do hope no members get into situations where they need to be represented, but when in doubt call your union.
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WHY AREN'T YOU ON STATUS OF WOMEN OR OTHER COMMITTEES ?
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I've applied to be on various D12 committees and wasn't selected. I've also applied for provincial committees and the Women in leadership mentorship program. Despite being urged to apply to the local D12 Status of Women Committee, I didn't. I was told the rationale was that I needed to start there (as my experience from other places was not acknowledged, but I disagreed seeing that the same request was not being made of males new to the executive, but also experienced elsewhere in unions. Last I heard I was still on the Anti-harassment Appeals committee, but no one has ever contacted me about it meeting.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO ABOUT BENEFITS ?
People and OTs from all over the province continue to talk to me regarding benefits. What do I know about what is happening elsewhere ? What can be done ? Will there even be any LTOS lasting 90 calendar days, so we can hope to get into the ELHT ?
I hope for better. I will speak up about the loss of affordable benefits here. There is a better answer than the OTIP OT plan. There are several better answers. OTs in other districts are finding them. It's time the largest OT district got the ball rolling.
It's time somebody stood up for OTs benefits rather than silently letting them slip further out of reach. We don't need extra conditions on getting benefits that make them un affordable to most who do manage to meet the eligibility requirements.
A Vote for Laura for OTBU President is a vote for someone who WILL SPEAK UP at the PROVINCIAL LEVEL for your benefits
WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE ?
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My OSSTF experience in other districts, holding posts of Vice President, Secretary, CBC Rep, Teacher Council Rep as well as sitting on PD committees, OT Executives, CBC Committees. I have experience being elected to 13 AMPAs (from 2 different districts) as well as running for OTF Governor 4 times. I have been to three Summer Leaderships and Equity Caucuses, as well as Health and Safety Conferences. Provincially I have been appointed or elected to attend from 3 different OSSTF districts over the years. Formerly held an ETFO postion of Negotiations Officer/Chief Negotiator in a non negotiating year, plus Chair of the Negotions Committee, Member of the ETFO local Executive and MDF (Member Development Funding) Committee
I have been at OT with the TDSB since 2008, 16 LTOs (some as short as 1 1 days, some as long as a whole semester)
in all of my qualified subjects Music (Honours Specialist) Geography (Honours Specialist) , Social Sciences (Honours Specialist), History, Spec Ed, Guidance. Co -op. Schools have
included Stephen Leacock ,York Memorial, SATEC@WA PORTER,
Lawrence Park, Woburn, Westview Centennial, Victoria Park, Malvern, Sir Oliver Mowat, Emery,
ARE YOU RETIRED?
No I am not retired. I can teach any number of days and will continue to seek daily, LTO and permanent teaching work. Teaching will remain my career goal I persevere, even as class sizes increase and jobs deccrease.
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HOW ARE YOU VOTING ON THE OSSTF TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ?
DID YOU VOTE TO BRING THIS TO MEMBERS ?
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Since I am not on the OSSTF Provincial Council (which is comprised of Presidents and Chief Negotiators from all over Ontario), I was not part of the OSSTF group that voted to bring this to the members for you (and everyone in OSSTF) to vote on.
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I'm simply a member like you, and since you asked, I have no problem stating what I chose. I voted NO. As some would say Hard NO. I think it's important we as educators model that consistency as everyone is watching. We teach about such things, so we should model it. OSSTF's slogan was "No Cuts to Education" so quite simply I won't vote for an offer with cuts. Every time class sizes increase, sections or classes decrease. Students have less caring adults around, and less support. With fewer sections, some educator is losing that employment, whether it be a contract teacher who is surplussed, and now placed in a fixed term LTO (displacing an LTO position you or I might have applied for if it was posted). The now underemployed LTO now ends up with so many others on the supply list (joining laid off contract teachers who are still looking for work) . It's not a question of do cuts produce job losses, but simply a question of who ends up underemployed or unemployed. I'm not voting for cuts to take away those teaching jobs. No, my position wouldn't change if I were permanent. No Cuts Mean No Cuts. If you wish to discuss further, please email or phone me.
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HAVE YOU BEEN SANCTIONED ? BY THE UNION OR THE OCT? DON'T YOU LEGALLY HAVE TO DECLARE THAT ?
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No. I haven't been sanctioned by any union or governing body. The nomination form for D12 OTBU only asks you to declare if you are a member of another union. I am not. I don't belong to other unions such as CUPE or ETFO. Supply Teaching is my job, how I earn a living. Other elections might have different nomination declarations, so you would have to ask them, or ask each candidate (if you didn't see anything on the OCT blue pages and were looking to find out other unions or sanctions)
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WHY AREN'T YOU POSTING ENDORSEMENTS ? WON'T MORE PEOPLE VOTE FOR YOU IF THEY OTHERS DOING DO ? WHY AREN'T YOU MAILING US LITERATURE FOR THOSE NOT ON THE WEB?
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I made the choice 6 years back when I first starting running for OTBU Executive, not to post endorsements or seek twitter or instagram followings. I don't think an election should be about popularity or look who voted for who. I'm not sure endorsements from people who actually have nothing to do with D12 OSSTF is even credible. I urge voters to read what candidates have to say (if they have a website) and contact them to ask questions. Voters have the right to make up their own minds and not feel pressured by others, or barraged with social media messages, unsolicited emails or postal mailings. Plus I'm an OT just like you seeking daily work in the schools. With only a 15 day LTO in this school year and daily work being way down... how could I afford to send out mailings or seek endorsements. There aren't any campaign rules about endorsements or expense disclosures, but I can assure you NO UNION DUES have been used to run any of my campaigns. (For each of my 4 runs for OTF Governor any of my campaign disclosures and expense statements were filed with provincial OSSTF, so I campaign the same way for D12 OTBU Executive. I couldn't afford to mail you literature even if I was given the opportunity to do it, or the means to contact you or even know your contact information. My blub was edited in the Callout Newsletter, but even in pre covid times, there are opportunities for people to connect with non web means. Feel free to give me a call. I'm here for you, sincerely.
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ARE YOU PART OF ANY GROUP OR SLATE ?
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No. I am not part of any group or slate. I have always run independently. I am happy to work with anyone who is elected to advocate for you the members. That is the job of elected officials to stand up and be the voice of people. I'd rather be elected for what I stand for COMMUNICATION ADVOCACY TRANSPARENCY. (That should have been the website banner, but somehow that disappeared.) Vote for Laura , because of who I am, not because of any association with other candidates. We are no longer in high school, we teach high school. I hope voters will think critically, and take the time to consider each potential candidate they will be voting for.
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289 851 8402
