NEWSLETTER IASS WHAT IS MY UNION DOING FOR ME?

IASS
INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION
OF SUPPORT STAFF
NEWSLETTER
CALENDAR EVENTS
OCTOBER 23
CARRA PENSION
PLANNING SESSION
REGISTRATION
OCTOBER 7
IASS DELEGATES’
MEETING PEC
NOVEMBER 28
IASS AGM &
PROFESSIONAL DAY
PCHS
IASS EXECUTIVE
ALLISON PROVOST
(TREASURER & ACTING 1ST V.P.)
BRONWYN SANDERSON
(2ND V.P.)
AMANDA LAING
(SECRETARY)
PEGGY SCOTT
(DIRECTOR)
ROB GILMARTIN
(DIRECTOR)
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014
WHAT IS MY UNION DOING
FOR ME?
- PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Happy New Year was the focus
of our January message but it’s
also the appropriate greeting in
September for all of us working
in the education sector. For
many, September means
welcoming new faces in our
workplaces. It’s also a time of
facing new challenges. The
2014-2015 school year will bring
with it new challenges due to
the ever-dreaded cuts in the
education budget and the effect
they will have on support staff. What added expectations will be
placed on us as we continue to
maintain the quality of services
on which we pride ourselves? We, as a union, are an important
part of the community. When we
raise the bar for ourselves, we
are also raising the quality of
service for everyone around us
within that community. The
work we do and the pride we
reap from it must come hand in
hand with safe, healthy, respectful work environments, the
opportunity for us to contribute
to decisions that impact our
working lives and honouring the
parameters of our job.
These, as well as issues relating to
fairness, equity, anti-harassment
and workplace civility don't just
solve themselves. When that day
comes, and only then, will the
suggestion that unions have
outlived their usefulness carry any
kind of weight.
As this year gains momentum don't
be afraid to ask “What is my union
doing for me?”
You are encouraged to make your
union accountable. One of the
advantages of being an independent
union is that it’s all-inclusive making
it easier to be heard, easier to ask
questions and provide input. All of
this improves our strength in working together to make a difference
and reinforces an understanding of
the need to take care of each other.
Happy New Year!
-
Anita Nenadovich
IASS
INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION
OF SUPPORT STAFF
NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014
THANK YOU IASS DELEGATES!
D
o you know who your IASS delegate is? Representing our support staff in each workplace, as well as
acting as liaison on any problems or union-related issues, we take this opportunity to thank our delegates for
volunteering their time and efforts in assisting our Union in getting its message(s) and information to you.
Currently, we do not have representation at the following workplaces so if you are a support staff member
who would like to take on the role of delegate, please let the union office know.
St. Thomas High School
Christmas Park Elementary
Lakeside Academy
DOES YOUR IASS DELEGATE
HAVE YOUR CORRECT
E-MAIL ADDRESS?
Your Union is doing its part to save on
paper and get information to you faster.
At this beginning of a new school year,
please help out your workplace delegate by
ensuring that he or she has your correct
e-mail address (as not all support staff
members have board e-mail accounts)
so that information can be sent directly to
you as soon as it is released.
SCHOOL BOARD
ELECTIONS
As employees working in education, as
parents, as citizens, it is important to
cast your vote in the upcoming
November 2nd School Board elections.
The outcome of these elections affects
all of us. For more information on how
to ensure that you are on the Electoral
List and to become informed on the
candidates, visit the Lester B. Pearson
School Board website:
www.lbpsb.qc.ca
ON NOVEMBER 2, 2014 , LET YOUR
VOICE BE HEARD!
IASS
INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION
OF SUPPORT STAFF
NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014
HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN UPDATE
As we continue to work on revamping our group insurance program, no stone is being left unturned as we
focus on our goal of managing costs while maximizing the value of the benefits we provide to you.
As you know the renewal date is January 1, 2015. Over the next two months, you will be provided with the
information you need to make informed coverage choices for you and your family. Information sessions will
be held for all those interested in attending (times and locations will be announced shortly).
Finding the best possible solution to minimize health insurance increases has been an ongoing priority for
your IASS Executive. In connection with this, a group of support staff members volunteered their time to
provide input through a focus group in June. Their input, along with the comments we have received from so
many of our members, has been invaluable in this initiative.
We would like to thank all of you for contributing to this process and we are confident that we will meet our
goal of having a benefits program that provides improved financial and health security for our members.
A PENSION INFORMATION WORKSHOP
A Pension Information Workshop will be jointly offered by IASS and Human Resources October
23, 2014. It will be held at the Lester B. Pearson School Board, 1925 Brookdale Ave., Dorval from
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with a representative from CARRA (Commission administrative des régimes de
retraite et d’assurances). This pension session is designated only for support staff personnel who
are planning to retire within the next five (5) years or are 55+ years of age. You should have
received your CARRA pension statement in the mail during the month of May or June and it is
recommended that you bring it with you October 23.
Registration period will commence October 1, 2014 and the registration deadline will be October
17, 2014. The registration link will be communicated to everyone on October 1st and will be
posted on SharePoint and on the Portal.
SUMMER 2014
IASS OFFICE HOURS
JUNE 25th - JULY 9th
AUGUST 11th - AUGUST 22nd
Monday to Thursday
Fridays
8:30am - 4:30pm
8:30am - 12:00pm
JULY 10th - AUGUST 8th
Closed
AS OF AUGUST 25th
Monday to Thursday
Fridays
8:30am - 4:30pm
8:30am- 12:00pm
8:30am - 4:30pm
(MONDAY to FRIDAY)
IASS
INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION
OF SUPPORT STAFF
NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014
RECENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Can I be forced to take a ped day off as compensation for additional work that I have completed over my regular schedule?
A: No. Pedagogical days are work days. You cannot be forced to stay at home on “ped” days in order to be compensated for overtime.
Q: I just don’t understand how compensatory time works? Can someone please explain it to me?
A: All regular part-time and regular full-time employees are required to complete their relative compensatory time hours in
order that they may be paid for the Christmas break days which are not designed as legal holidays. The administrator /
superior must provide you with opportunities to complete these hours. Once the hours have been worked, you are no longer
required to work compensatory time. If you are required by your superior to work extra hours after the compensatory time has
been completed, it is compensated as overtime. Visit the news/blog section of the IASS website: www.iass.ca for a detailed
explanation. “Where does compensatory time end and overtime begin?”
Q: Am I allowed to have a paid “moving” day?
A: Yes. This is covered under Special Leaves 5-1.01 of our Provincial collective agreement. You are allowed one paid day for
moving, however, an employee is not entitled to more than one day off per year for this purpose.
Q: What do I have to do for the moving day?
A: Submit a signed written notice to Payroll/Human Resources Department with your employee number stating that on the
specified day, you are moving from (list your old address) to (list your new address). This serves two purposes, it verifies the
moving day which you are entitled to and at the same time you are advising the Payroll department of your new address for
entry in the paie system.
Q: Why does the 2014-2015 School Board calendar show Easter Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 as a Boardwide Ped Day? Isn’t that a legal holiday?
A:
Easter Tuesday is a paid legal holiday for support staff only. This day is included in the Local Arrangements agreement
under 5-2.00 Paid Legal Holidays. Due to the fact that support staff do not report to work that day, the Lester B. Pearson
School Board designates the day as a Boardwide Ped day.
Énergie Cardio discount continues…
Our partnership with Énergie Cardio has been renewed with their offer of an
$80 discount on an annual membership to our support staff members and their
family members (16 years and older living at the same address). All that`s
required is proof of employment with the Lester B. Pearson School Board when
signing up at any one of the Énergie Cardio locations.
Independent Association of
Support Staff of the LBPSB
121 Summerhill
Pointe-Claire (QUEBEC)
Canada H9R 2L8
TEL: (514) 426-1003
FAX: (514) 426-5814
EMAIL: [email protected]