Hi everyone,
Just a brief Check-In this week. Please make sure to read the Announcements for some important upcoming dates, especially the deadline for Bursary applications. Our next, and final meeting of the year, is set for June 5th at 6pm (supper at 5:30pm) at the Legion in Sackville.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NSTU Presidential Election
A reminder that this Wednesday, May 15th, there will be an election for a new NSTU President. Please make sure to vote. The REO for the election is Duncan Cameron, his email is duncancameron@nstu.ca
Meeting dates
The Halifax County Local General Meeting dates are as follows:
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.
It is in your Provincial/Regional Agreement
Regional
ARTICLE 14 – UNION REPRESENTATION
14.01 Every teacher shall have the right to Union representation at any meeting called for disciplinary purposes by supervisory personnel.
14.02 A meeting for disciplinary purposes shall be understood to mean a meeting convened for the purpose of dealing with a verbal or written warning or reprimand, a suspension or the dismissal of the teacher. Any meeting in which it is not intended to deal with any of the aforementioned disciplines shall not be considered a meeting for disciplinary purposes.
14.03 Notwithstanding Article 14.01, any meeting called by an Administrator and which in the course of the conversation results in information being shared, the impact of which may result in discipline for the teacher, then such meeting shall cease and the teacher shall be given the opportunity to have a Union representative present at the ensuing meeting.
14.04 The teacher shall be notified in advance of any meeting pursuant to Article 14.01 as to the purpose of the said meeting and the teacher shall have the opportunity to contact the Local President or NSTU central office for representation at the meeting.
14.05 If a teacher does not avail themselves of the opportunity pursuant to Article 14.04 or refuses Union representation, any discipline imposed by the Regional Centre at the meeting shall not be held to be invalid for that reason.
NSTU Benefits at a Glance
OPTIONAL BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS
There are a number of optional benefits available to Public School Members, PSAANS and APSEA Members that provide the opportunity to purchase additional insurance coverage through payroll deduction, including:
- optional group life/spousal life insurance
- voluntary accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
- NSED travel insurance
- NSED trip cancellation / interruption insurance
- voluntary critical illness insurance • home/auto insurance.
These coverages are 100% paid by the member and are offered at competitive premium rates. Details on these programs are contained within the Group Insurance Profile via the NSTU Group Insurance Trust website at nstuinsurance.ca
In solidarity,
Shawn Hanifen
Local President