W.A.N.T.E. November, 2012 NEWSLETTER WORKING FOR YOU 111-1555 St. James Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 1B5 Phone: 204-953-0250 Fax: 204-953-0259 Office Email: [email protected]Website: www.wante.org Editor: Pam Elliott See more at www.wante.org 2012 Retirees Back Row: Donna MacNeil, Henrietta Chartrand, Linda Kellas, Donna Fissel, Lynn Livingston, Colette Vaccaro, Nancy Blackburn Middle Row: Julia Dalloo, Brenda Landy, Nicole Pantel, Wendy Miller, Janice Scherpenzeel, Joanne Trayturik Front Row: Sue Gobeil, Bev Niederhoffer, Janice McBean, Joan Smith Retiree Lynn Livingston Back Row: Lindae Torrchin, Cynthia Hornstein Front Row: Lesley Meese, Denise Hanlan, Lynn Livingston, Linda Bedosky, Ron Livingston Good Conversation Left to Right: Alice Taylor, Joan Anderson, and Janice Rathbone Welcome and opening remarks by Barbara Morrison, President W.A.N.T.E.
Back Row: Donna MacNeil, Henrietta Chartrand, Linda Kellas, Donna Fissel, Lynn Livingston, Colette Vaccaro, Nancy Blackburn
Middle Row: Julia Dalloo, Brenda Landy, Nicole Pantel, Wendy Miller, Janice Scherpenzeel, Joanne Trayturik
Front Row: Sue Gobeil, Bev Niederhoffer, Janice McBean, Joan Smith
Retiree Lynn Livingston
Back Row: Lindae Torrchin, Cynthia Hornstein
Front Row: Lesley Meese, Denise Hanlan, Lynn Livingston, Linda Bedosky, Ron Livingston
Good Conversation
Left to Right: Alice Taylor, Joan Anderson, and Janice Rathbone
Welcome and opening remarks by Barbara Morrison, President W.A.N.T.E.
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NOVEMBER, 2012 NEWSLETTER
Our Annual Dinner was held on Thursday, October 25, 2012 at the Norwood Hotel. Approximately 130 members, co-workers, friends and family came out to celebrate 36 of our members being honored at this event. There were 17 retirees present. It was a wonderful evening. I wish to thank to Liz Belous (Chair) and the Social Committee, for the excellent job of coordinating and planning this wonderful evening. We were honoured to have Trustee Mark Wasyliw, Chief Superintendent Pauline Clarke, Director of Human Resources, Eric Barnaby, Human Resource Officer, Joelle Aylward, Wellness Co-Ordinator, Heather Closen, and Human Resource Assistant, Lois Pare join us as our guests. It was a pleasure to see some school administrators and teachers participate in the celebration. I want to thank everyone who attended this event and everyone who contributed and made it such a success. It really was a great evening and I think everyone that attended really enjoyed it. On behalf of the Association, congratulations and best wishes to all our retirees. I would like to thank those members that volunteered their time in the morning and joined me on October 19th at Grant Park High School where we helped the registrants check in at SAGE. It was nice to see so many members who came out to attend the workshops. It seems early to be saying this but as this is our last newsletter of the year, on behalf of the Association, I wish you a wonderful holiday and best wishes for the New Year! Please feel free to call me at 204-953-0250 (office) or if necessary after hours at 204-619-0822 (cell) if you have any questions or concerns. I can also be reached by email at [email protected].
President’s Message - Barbara Morrison
If you are a permanent employee or if you are assigned to a term which will likely be more than 120 consecutive days in length, you are entitled to a one day paid discretionary leave in each school year.
You can use it on a No Class day and you can attach it to a long weekend, but you CANNOT use it attached to a break (Winter, Spring or Summer) and it cannot be deferred to the following year.
Substitutes are provided to employees who are entitled to a substitute according to the Division’s Guidelines for Provision of Substitutes.
Please be sure to complete your Short Leave of Absence form (Absence #89, Reason Code DISC) six weeks prior to the date and report your absence in SmartFindExpress.
Discretionary Day—Use It Or Lose It!
Inside this issue:
Annual Dinner 4
Collective Bargaining 6
Discretionary Day 2
Evaluations 9
Flu Shot 7
Group Life Insurance Plan 6
Important Dates 7
In Memory 3
Labour Ed News 7
Liaison News 5
Member Spotlight 8
Membership Update Forms 3
On Line Training 9
President's Message 2
PD Correction 4
PD Funding 6
Remembrance Day 7
Vice President's Message 3
W.A.N.T.E. Leave 7
Winter Work Schedule 2
Work Schedule Over The Winter Break The last day of work for all ten month employees is Friday, December 21, 2012 and the return day is Monday, January 7, 2012.
All twelve month employees will work their regular hours with the exception of Monday, December 24, 2012 (designated day off in lieu of Remembrance Day, November 11), Christmas Day (December 25) , Boxing Day (December 26) and Tuesday, January 1, 2013.
On May 9, 2012, Irene May Fisher, Retired Clerk, member for 10 years
On August 5, 2012, Mary Kithithee, Educational Assistant, member for 18 years On September 14, 2012 Joyce Owens, Educational Assistant, member for 13 years.
Wow, the beginning of November already!
I had the pleasure of attending the WANTE Annual Dinner on October 25 at the Norwood Hotel. It was great once again to see some of our retirees and their families and friends. I am always surprised to see how many years of experience some of our members have. Of the nine members that I had the pleasure of introducing that evening, they totalled 182 years of service. Again, I would like to express all the best in their new endeavours and good health.
I am once again one of your reps on the Pension Committee for the WSD. We had our first meeting on October 10, 2012 at the Board office.
Our plan has entered its 84th year of existence at the beginning of 2012. At the beginning of the year for 2011, the contributing members of the Fund numbered 2,276. During the year, 75 new members were added, 81 left the service, 71 retired on pension, and 1 member died in service, leaving 2,198 contributing members at the end of 2011. Of these, 79 are former contributors to the Fund who are entitled to deferred pensions and 4 are contributors who are receiving disability pensions under the provisions of the plan.
The total investments of the Pension Fund realized an overall rate of return for 2011 of -2.3% which compares to 12.4% for 2010. Total assets available for plan benefits as of December 31, 2011 were over 267 million dollars.
I would like at this time to wish the membership a good and safe holiday season. If you wish to contact me I can be reached at [email protected]
Vice President’s Message - Luis Tome
Winter Break Employment Insurance
Please visit Employee Connect or the Division Bulletin Board for information.
Membership Update Forms
REMINDER! If you haven’t already done so, please send in your membership update form, as soon as possible to the WANTE office. WANTE does not receive any personal information, new or change(s) from the Division so we rely on what our members send us.
NOVEMBER, 2012 NEWSLETTER
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Professional Development
Mandatory PD
Activities such as First Aid, CPR, WHMIS, Injury Prevention and **Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, if they are a requirement in your job description, are not to be used as professional development days for the purpose of calculating an Educational Assistant's work year under Article 10.06(a)(i). Attendance at these Division in-services are not included in the two or three days allocated during the work year. These workshops are reported as DVIN on SFE. If the workshop is scheduled for more hours than your regular assignment, you will be paid the additional hours. Please notify the secretary of any additional hours that you
have worked.
correction
W.A.N.T.E. Annual Dinner—Liz Belous The Association’s Annual Dinner was held at the Norwood Hotel on Thursday, October 25, 2012. This year, there were approx. 130 people in attendance for the dinner, which was a scrumptious meal of Whiskey Chicken, Salad, Vegetables and Dessert prepared by the staff of the Norwood.
In the 2011 - 2012 School Year, we had 36 members retire from The Winnipeg School Division, 17 of which we honoured at the dinner with an engraved glass apple, a monetary gift based on years of service and a wrist corsage.
It was an awesome evening of speeches about the Retirees, their experiences, memorable moments of their career with the Division, and their plans for Retirement.
We would like to thank everyone who attended this year’s dinner. It’s always nice to see other retirees and School Administrators attend this event.
I would like to extend a special Thank you to Dawn Bronk and Carla Paul, for their Photography skills, the duo of Barb Morrison and Luis Tome for making the Presentations to the retirees and the Social Committee for their support and dedication to preparing the program, wrapping the gifts, writing speeches, ordering flowers, greeting guests and their assistance throughout the evening to make the Association’s dinner a success.
It was a great evening and everyone in attendance enjoyed themselves. Mark your calendar for next year, the 2012 - 2013 Annual Dinner will be held at the Norwood Hotel on Thursday, October 24, 2013. Please remember that this not just an evening for Retirees, it’s an opportunity for all members to come out and have dinner with colleagues, past and present.
On behalf of the Association, we would like wish Retirees all the best in their retirement. May each of you have years of happiness and good health.
In the September Newsletter, under the heading of Mandatory PD, we should have included the 2 Day NVCI Certification done via Special Ed. As it is mandatory for EAs in the C & D classification, and 1/2 Day Refreshers are to be taken every 2 years. Thanks to Valerie S. in Special Ed. for catching our mistake.
NOVEMBER, 2012 NEWSLETTER
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Our first Liaison meeting for this school year, was held on October 4, 2012 at the Admin Bldg. No. 2.
It was attended by 47 Liaison Representatives from various work locations. WANTE appreciates the commitment by our Liaison representatives, especially that day, with our first experience of bad weather.
There were a number of items discussed at the meeting and I would like to remind the membership about one of them - Jury Duty (Article 21 in your Collective Agreement). If you should receive a subpoena for Jury Duty and would rather be excused, please contact Human Resources, who will prepare a letter for you. Please send a written request asking to be excused from Jury Duty, along with your original subpoena to HUMAN RESOURCES. HR will prepare the letter for you, but you will have to go down to HR in person to pick it up, as it needs your signature. The letter will provide all the necessary information you require.
The Liaison Committee would welcome any questions from the membership, which can be made by your Liaison Reps in the workplace or sent to Luis at [email protected] or Barb at the WANTE office [email protected]
A reminder that our next Liaison meeting will be Thursday, December 6th at Admin. No. 2. We will be providing the Agenda on the WANTE website at the end of November. Please print it and bring it with you, as there will only be a few printed copies available at the meeting.
The following information (from Mercer) is a new approach to life insurance life events.
The change will be communicated to employees through Employee Connect (WSD@work and Bulletin Board), the Administrative Bulletin and having the notice posted/circulated.
Manitoba Public School Employees Group Life Insurance Plan New Approach to Life Events
At a Life Event, Group Life Insurance coverage can be increased to up to 7x earnings without proof of good health, if application is made within 90 days of the Life Event. Family Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment can also be added.
Starting September 1, 2012, this will be administered as 90 days before or after the Life Event. Previously the rule was after. Now, if an application is received before the Life Event and you are working, increased coverage starts when the Life Events occurs. If you are not working or apply after the Life Event, increased coverage starts when you return to work.
Life Events are: Birth or adoption of your first child Death of your spouse Marriage, including common-law
This new approach will allow first time mothers to apply in advance while working, and have coverage increase when their child is born, instead of when they return from maternity leave.
Similarly it will allow those getting married or attaining common-law status to apply in advance and have coverage increase when their status changes, rather than at a later date.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the WANTE office at 204-953-0250 or the Pension & Benefits Department directly at 204-775-0231.
Group Life Insurance Plan Changes
Professional Development funding is available to members from The Winnipeg School Division and W.A.N.T.E. Any members seeking funding MUST FIRST APPLY THROUGH WSD and then to W.A.N.T.E. WSD PD Funding forms should be available at your work location and WANTE PD Forms are available on the WANTE Website at www.wante.org Funding is given up to $200.00 to an individual once per year or $500.00 for group funding of more than 5 people.
Collective Bargaining—Carla Paul Are you interested in seeing some changes in our Collective Agreement? Do you have a new idea you would like added to our contract? Have a voice and send your suggestions to Carla Paul, Chairperson Collective Bargaining Committee at [email protected]
If you have ever thought about becoming a Foster Parent,
Winnipeg Child and Family Services would like to hear from you.
W.A.N.T.E. was contacted and asked if we would remind our
members that CFS is always looking for foster parents.
If you would like more information about becoming a Foster Parent,
please contact Winnipeg Child and Family Services at (204) 944-4288.
Remembrance Day
In lieu of Remembrance Day, 12-month employees will be given December 24 as the day in lieu. Ten month employees will receive an extra day’s pay during the appropriate pay period.
NOVEMBER, 2012 NEWSLETTER
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Important Dates Friday, Nov 23, 2012 Non-Instructional Day**
Thursday, Dec 6, 2012 Liaison Meeting @ Admin #2
Winter Break: December 24 to January 4, 2013
Monday, Feb 4, 2013 Non-Instructional Day**
Thursday, Feb 7, 2013 Liaison Meeting @ Admin #2
Friday, Mar 15, 2013 Non-Instructional Day**
Spring Break: March 25 to March 29, 2013
Thursday, Apr 4, 2013 Liaison Meeting
Friday, Apr 19, 2013 Non-Instructional Day**
Monday, May 13, 2013 Non-Instructional Day**
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 WANTE Annual General Meeting
Friday, June 28, 2013 Last day of school
** In additional to the Non-Instructional Days indicated above, each school is allotted two additional days that are to be used at their discretion. However, staff, parents and communities must be notified well in advance.
Labour Ed Committee—Pam Elliott The Labour Ed Committee met on Wednesday, October 3, 2012 to discuss upcoming workshops for 2012/2013.
The Committee had some fabulous ideas and we’re in the process of contacting presenters and booking dates and I’m looking forward to sharing that information with members once it has been finalized.
If you have suggestions about workshops that you would like to see offered to our members, please let me know by email at [email protected] and we will try to make it happen.
W.A.N.T.E. Wear
Check out the insert in this month’s newsletter to purchase your W.A.N.T.E. jacket.
The WSD along with the Wellness Coordinator would like to inform all of our employees that received the flu shot this year, that the vaccine that was recently noted in the media regarding the voluntary recall was NOT the vaccine used by The Winnipeg School Division.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Heather Closen, Wellness Coordinator at (204)789-0493.
The Flu Shot
W.A.N.T.E. Leave
As per the Letter of Understanding Re: Unpaid Leave of Absence, better known as the W.A.N.T.E. Leave, attached to our Collective Agreement is still in effect until June 1, 2013.
To apply for the leave you must have been employed for five (5) or more calendar years. You would then be entitled to apply for up to 2 weeks leave of absence every 2 years.
Applications for such leave shall be made 6 weeks in advance. You should receive your approval BEFORE you purchase any flights, hotel etc.
NOVEMBER, 2012 NEWSLETTER
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Millie Mercer
Mulvey School
Millie Mercer is an Educational Assistant D in the PLS class at Mulvey School. A couple of years ago, her classroom started the "Green Team" at Mulvey and was looking after the recycling program. The Lunch Program at Mulvey has over 100 children in it daily and many of the children bring in "Kool Aid Jammers" in their lunches and Millie kept seeing these pouches going into the garbage as they aren't recyclable. Millie had Lunch Program workers keep these for her and she started making lunch bags for children and staff at home after hours. Before long there were over 60 lunch bags floating around Mulvey. Last year Mulvey School had career fair and had Gord Leclair from CTV news in as a guest speaker. Millie presented him with a tie made out of the Jammer pouches and he wore it proudly on that evening’s newscast. Way to go Millie!
If you know of any members that should be featured in the Member Spotlight, please contact Barb Morrison, President at (204) 953-0250 or by email at [email protected]
Whether it’s a suggestion for the Collective Bargaining Committee, an idea for a Labour Ed workshop you’d like to see, or questions about available WSD or WANTE Professional Development funding, we want to hear from you! WANTE has established several committees each with a specific purpose, all chaired by members of your Executive. If you have any ideas, comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact the appropriate Committee Chairs at the email address below or contact the WANTE office anytime.
For all other inquiries contact Barb Morrison at the WANTE office (204) 953-0250 or [email protected]
We Want To Hear From You!
will be required to enter your email address (home or personal) as well as your first and last name. The system uses your e-mail address to create a unique identifier to ensure that you are properly identified in the system which allows for the tracking of your results and printing of certificates in your name.
All subsequent log ins will require only your email address and the WANTE password: WANTE.
We are proud to be able to make this opportunity available to you, our members and their families and hope you will take advantage of this opportunity and begin your on-line learning experience today!
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
www.wante.org
Training - On Line
W.A.N.T.E. again this year, in conjunction with VuBiz, will be offering members and their families an opportunity to on-line training.
VuBiz offers a huge list of courses available on subjects such as Computer Skills, Telephone Etiquette, Supervisory and Management skills, All About Business, as well as Health and Safety courses . W.A.N.T.E. pays the yearly fee to VuBiz and offers to the members this service all free of charge!
The complete list of On-Line courses as well as the on-line training, may be accessed directly from the WANTE website (www.wante.org).
Online training allows you the flexibility to work at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home.
The first time that you access the on-line training, you
On Line Training Available
EVALUATIONS! If you are to be evaluated this year, make sure you follow up with your supervisor/administrator to make sure that it isn’t overlooked.
Evaluations are important.
If you are ever called into a meeting with your administrator and feel it may be disciplinary in nature you are entitled to have representation from the Association. The meeting can be rescheduled till you have a chance to call W.A.N.T.E. . I will arrange with you to be there with you. If you are in a meeting with your supervisor/administrator and it becomes disciplinary in nature, ask to end the meeting till your representative can be there.
CALL Barbara Morrison, President at 204-953-0250
NOVEMBER, 2012 NEWSLETTER
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85 Years Experience between the 2 of them!
Back Row: Leslee Strauman, Jodene Gzebowski, Judi Bastl, Bonnie Mandzie, Terry Loganberg
Front Row: Retiree Nancy Blackburn and Retiree Joanne Trayturik
Retiree Wendy Miller with family and friends
Tec Voc Alumni
Back Row: Nelson Arevalo, Michelle Moreau
Front Row: Helen Moniz, Darlene Rhodes, Bev Boklaschuk
