Hi everyone,
Hope everyone had another relaxing long weekend. Just a brief Check-In this week with a reminder of next weeks meeting at the Legion in Lower Sackville at 45 Sackville Cross Rd., Lower Sackville. Resolutions submitted to the local will be heard and voted on at that time. Additionally, there will be a Zoom update for Reps who had to attend PT meetings and were unable to attend.
Please note the following important deadlines coming up for both our Member Registry (December 5th) and for members considering retirement to apply for ERIP’s by the end of December.
Early Retirement Incentive Plan
Any member who is retiring this year and interested in an Early Retirement Incentive Plan (ERIP) must apply by December 31st. Any retiring teacher should reach out to the local’s NSTU executive staff officer, Wally Fiander, for details. Wally’s email is wfiander@staff.nstu.ca
NSTU Member Registry
NSTU reps should be updating the Membership Registry online and in real time. When an NSTU rep updates the site list, the changes are immediately made to the database ensuring the Union’s membership information is current and accurate.
Individual members can also update all their personal, employment assignment and contact information themselves
Membership figures are pulled from the Registry on the first Monday in December and the first Monday in March each year. NSTU representatives are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the site information within the Membership Registry. All site updates should be completed at least one week prior to each of the above-mentioned dates and may be completed any time prior to that point. Should you require additional information please contact NSTU Central Office by phoning (902)-477-5621, or toll free at (800) 565-6788 or by emailing registry@nstu.ca.
A link to the webpage and the Site Management Instructions for NSTU School Representatives is below. In addition, at the bottom of the webpage link there is a link to forms for new members at your school site, if they do not show up on your registry.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meeting dates
The Halifax County Local General Meeting dates are as follows:
November 22
January 10
March 6
April 10
May 8
June 5
*Meetings are held at 6pm (5:30 supper) at the Legion in Lower Sackville.
It is in your Provincial/Regional Agreement
Provincial
ARTICLE 50 TRAVEL ALLOWANCE
50.01 Teachers who must travel in the performance of their regular duties (which include a specific duty assigned by the Education Entity or a meeting called by the Education Entity or an Education Entity initiated in-service) shall be paid a travel allowance the greater of thirty-four (34¢) per kilometre or the current provincial government rate for those kilometres in excess of the round trip distance between the teacher’s residence and the school/site where the teacher teaches the greatest percentage of his/her time. If the teacher teaches an equal amount of time at more than one (1) school/site, then the school/site to be used in the calculation of travel allowance shall be the school/site closest to the teacher’s ordinary place of residence.
50.02 The parties to this Agreement shall encourage teachers to travel together when attending the same meeting/in-service when circumstances make it reasonably practicable.
NSTU Benefits at a Glance
Long Term Disability
Effective August 1, 2014 – the NSTU Long Term Disability Plan is mandatory for all members without the ability to opt out unless the following condition hasbeen met:
- Plan member is age 65 or has 35 years of pensionable service less accumulated sick leave.
Cost Sharing
Under the Teachers’ Provincial Agreement/APSEA Agreement, the Employer cost shares monthly premium with members by paying 50%. Some members are grandfathered at 70% of the monthly cost.
Coverage
- 70% of gross monthly salary at time claim commences – taxable
- For long-term claims, benefit reduced by Workers’ Compensation and/or Canada Pension
- Rehabilitation benefit
- Cost-of-living benefit, outside the insurance contract
- Elimination period of 90 calendar days, or accumulated sick leave, whichever is greater
- Benefits payable to age 65
- Pension contributions are made by Member and Employer
Adjudicators
Adjudicated by Manulife Financial
Contact
If you have any questions regarding the above, please call the Administrator, Johnson Inc., at 453-9543 or 1-800-453-9543 (toll-free).
email: insurance@nstu.ca or nstu@johnson.ca
Visit the Johnson Inc. website: www.johnson.ca
Have a great week,
Shawn Hanifen
Local President