Hello everyone,
Thank you to all the reps who have confirmed that they have enough voting cards for the ratification on the regional tentative agreement that is slated for Wednesday of this week.
Please see the following Announcements below and their deadlines to apply. Please take special notice of the deadline for the Nominations and Local bursary dates. The attachments for Nominations were sent out to Reps last week as its own separate email.
Also, a reminder that the next local meeting is set for May 8th at 5.30pm at the Legion in Lower Sackville as there will be a large section for speeches and Q&A. At that meeting you will have an opportunity to meet with the 5 candidates to be your next NSTU Provincial President.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meeting dates
The Halifax County Local General Meeting dates are as follows:
May 8
June 5
*Meetings are held at 6pm (5:30 supper) at the Legion in Lower Sackville.
Bursary News
Applications for the Halifax County Local Bursary are now open. Here is the link to the Google Form https://forms.gle/yvqGU1KocPuCw2cz9 . This link will also be posted on our social media and local website. Halifax County bursaries are given to the children/stepchildren of Halifax County Local members (not PSAANS members) who are currently (2023-2024) teaching in a term or permanent position. Applicants must be graduating from High School in June 2024. This bursary must be used for enrolment in secondary education in September 2024 and cannot be deferred to another school year. The amount received by each recipient will be dependent on how many applications are received in total. The deadline for application is Friday, May 24th, 2024.
Successful applicants will be notified by email after the deadline. Due to confidentiality, all correspondence will be between the applicant (not a parent) and the Halifax County Local Treasurer only. Applicants are responsible for keeping the confirmation notification that is received once the Google form is completed. Successful applicants will be asked to supply their Confirmation of Enrollment for a September 2024 start by September 27th, 2024 to receive the funds. Failure to submit the required document by the deadline will forfeit the funds to be shared amongst the applicants who completed the requirements.
Nominations
Reminder: Pre-Council planning on Wednesday, April 24 at 530pm at the Sackville Legion. If you have any dietary concerns/restrictions, please let Jason Jennings know as soon as possible. His email is hfxconominations@nstu.ca
The Nominations Committee has opened application forms for next year’s local standing committees and CONTACT 2024 in July and nomination forms for the following local executive positions: VPs of Communication, Social & Wellness, Professional Development, Nominations & Equity & Reps (interim). Please share these form links with your staff. Also, posters with QR codes (in pdf) have been provided for you to print and post in your staff room to make applications and nominations more accessible to members.
PLEASE NOTE: if you currently sit on a local standing committee, you MUST re-apply for next year’s committees if you have not reached your term limit.
Local Standing Committee Application
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdpObqEqRiYDUENUu6e6oWTB9wFrd_drh4Opt6SNlzkuoJuAA/viewform
CONTACT 2024
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9QS6D6ixIvEDrBNXz66pd_j2psYWruWHTMNMiYj7K9fPEPg/viewform
Local Executive Position
VP – Communications
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5yfzd4ZM_Q-hiBiCqasDAW2Yu-sBC-8LAjsp0Uxr1ZOyz9A/viewform
VP – Social & Wellness
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGB4GzY9MnOQWUEJGfa478KtPH6oSIuUJIHQxnBwHTO7F1kg/viewform
VP – Professional Development
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyX1FHue4REXROaJH9Z79IMz1kNclqLwo1JoMeouwlqOxd0A/viewform
VP – Nominations
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCRl1yD2UR0oYz98hHKMUbOrq8UlSWfvdp07hAd2nhpxxG0Q/viewform
VP – Equity & Reps (interim)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeV9-X5KobVRuMddWWABexeaSBXnBNHsnfV9hMhDuV9pCs27w/viewform
The Nominations Committee wishes to thank school reps for their efforts in the distribution of information for this important applications & nominations.
It is in your Provincial/Regional Agreement
Provincial
As some teachers have asked about their lost narking and preparation time, I have included the section in article 59 to clarify. Also, many teachers have expressed they have significant barriers to carrying out their duties, so a section of the Working Conditions article is also attached. A link to both articles in their entirety is listed below for your reference. Please email our local NSTU staff officer if you need assistance or clarification for either article, Wally’s email is wfiander@staff.nstu.ca.
Teachers’ Provincial Agreement 2015-2019 (windows.net)
ARTICLE 59 MARKING AND PREPARATION TIME
59.05 A teacher who is required by the Principal to fill in when a substitute is not hired pursuant to Article 32.23 (Substitute Teachers) of this Agreement shall have the lost marking and preparation time rescheduled within ten (10) school days.
ARTICLE 70 WORKING CONDITIONS
70.02 A teacher(s) who considers a system, policy or structure as causing a significant barrier(s) to carrying out the teacher’s duties may report the facts of the situation in writing to their immediate supervisor who shall investigate, take appropriate action, and report the response in writing within fifteen (15) days to the teacher(s).
In solidarity.
Shawn Hanifen