Answers to your frequently asked questions.
Questions are divided by topic, but we will keep a section at the top for the hot topics currently being asked most. Have something you feel should be added to the FAQ, you can email our webmaster
(New questions will be added to the sections over the next few weeks)
HOT TOPICS & BACK TO SCHOOL
The following dates have tentatively been set:
June 11 External Contract postings open
June 18 LTO postings open
August 19 Remaining Contract and LTO postings open
Please me aware of the date and TIME that the postings close.
After you have applied through ApplyToEducation, the Principal has full discretion over who is interviewed and who the successful candidate is.
At this point, it is completely the up to the Principals.
Yes this causes concerns about equity, bias, favouritism and nepotism. Our current hiring language in the collective agreement cannot prevent these unless there is documented proof of illegal discrimination by an admin.
The system is not broken.
There has been a decrease in the amount of work. Many absences are currently also being filled using the itinerant LTO positions hired earlier this year.
If you are not available to work, please update your settings in EasyConnect/ApplyToEducation.
Yes, it is submitted electronically by the WRDSB after the end of the school year. This is done automatically, and does not require any action on your part.
We are still in negotiations with the WRDSB. At this point no job action has been announced. Local bargaining updates are sent out to members via email, so check there for updates. Before any action is taken, negotiations must reach "impasse" meaning that they have broken down and are no longer productive and all members will be notified in our updates. Members not receiving emails can sign up by using the update email feature on the right side menu of the website, or contact our office at office@wrotl.ca.
HIRING FAQ
The LTO list was a requirement under Regulation 274. With that regulation repealed, the LTO list no longer exists.
Hiring is now based on the terms of our Collective Agreement and the WRDSB Staffing Policies.
All things related to the LTO list or Reg 274 no longer apply.
No.
When the regulation was repealed, no considerations were given to those already on the LTO lists across the province.
When the Local Collective Agreement was signed, there were no provisions related to those who had previously been on the LTO list.
The board is currently advising administrators to interview at least 3 applicants for each position.
The board is required to post openings and accept applications for LTOs longer than 6 weeks. These LTO postings should be filled by somebody on the current OT roster before considering any external applicants.
For an LTO shorter than 6 weeks, the WRDSB may choose how to fill the position.
No. For permanent contracts, the WRDSB can hire any applicant.
There is no preference given to current elementary OTs within the WRDSB.
The government sent a memo, PPM 165, to school boards suggesting that hiring practices and policies should be fair.
The WRDSB has stated that it developed its policies based on PPM 165, and supports equity in hiring.
Administrators have been told to follow the WRDSB policies, and to ensure staffing is fair and equitable.
EQUITY, HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION
ETFO is an equity seeking organization. The union is commmitted to respecting the rights of all members.
You can view our Human Rights Statement here.
The committee Chair is Ajita Puri, and you can reach her via email at sainiajita@gmail.com
The Executive Liason for the E&SJ Committee is Shelly Duncan and you can reach her via email at sduncan@wrotl.ca
If you are experiencing this at school, you can contact our local President Marsha Auxilly at mauxilly@wrotl.ca or call our office at 519-571-0222
We are here to support you and help address your concerns. If this involves a violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code or our Collective Agreement, we can help you with that.
You can also reach out to the WRDSB Human Rights branch - click here
The Equity & Social Justice committee put out a survey earlier this year. It is completely voluntary and completely anonymous.
We are still accepting responses and looking to hear more about the problems our members are experiencing. If you would like to complete the survey, we would really appreciate hearing your story. CLICK HERE.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
In order to remain on the roster, you are required to complete 25 occurences during the school year before June 15th.
An occurence means a teaching day OR a half day.
(ie. a 1 day assignment counts as 1 occurence, a 3-day assignment counts as 3 occurences, and working 2 half days counts as 2 occurences)
You should notify the Local to update your name or email by emailing office@etfowatots.ca.
You should also provide any information updates to
- WRDSB
- Apply To Education
- ETFO Provincial
- the Ontario College of Teachers
- the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
The WRDSB sent out an all staff memo with the expectations for the PD Day. For those in LTOs, this is primarily intended to be used for assessment and reporting.
Check your @wrdsb email for full details.
If you chose to request a FOB for the WRDSB's multifactor authentication process, and you have lost your FOB, you will need to contact the board to get a replacement OR you will need to contact the board to switch your verification method to providing the code using your cell phone. This process may take a couple business days, and you may be unable to access the system during that time.
COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT FAQs
Because of the importance of this document, all pages on our website contain a link to the Collective Agreement.
You can also click here
Our most recent Collective Agreement expired on August 31, 2022.
Yes, the one that was only ratified back in February.
Despire our Agreement having expired, because we are currently in negotiations, all the conditions of the previous agreement will remain in place until a new agreement is ratified.
Information will be sent out to members via email.
For this reason, it is EXTREMELY important to make sure that both ETFO Provincial and your local, WROTL have your current personal email address.
(WROTL will not send confidential bargaining information to @wrdsb email accounts.)
BENEFITS FAQ
coming soon
PAY/SALARY FAQ
The current daily rate for 2022-2023 is $252.01.
All daily OT work will be paid for either a full day, or half day.
You can find it here:
QECO is short for the Qualifications Evaluation Council of Ontario.
They determine which qualification level you will be paid at for a salaried position (LTO or permanent). On the salary grid, you will see the classificiations as A1, A2, A3, A4.
It is important to keep your QECO rating up to date, to ensure you are being paid appropriately. Once you complete an AQ course, you should submit the information to QECO. This can have a significant impact on your LTO pay!
Visit qeco.ca to start an application.
COVID FAQ
If you are sick, you would enter your absence in EasyConnect/ApplyToEducation. Enter the absence using the A100 code for a regular sick day, even if related to covid.
The board will no longer be using the quarantine Q100 code for covid at this time (unless a written order from Public Health, which won't happen).
Using a sick day does not require you to fail the school screening or test positive. Sick is sick.
The days you have available are based on a full year (194 day) LTO. For LTOs shorter than a full year, the number of days will be prorated. You can view the number of days available on the self-service portal.
11 days will be paid at 100% (sick days)
120 days will be paid at 90% (short term leave/disability plan days - STLDP)
Once your 11 sick days are used up, absences will automatically go to the "short term leave" allocation, even if that "short term" means a half day or two days.
If you are away 6 or more consecutive days, the Wellness Department may request a note from your doctor to confirm your illness, and begin to determine next steps if you will be away longer, or require accommodations to help with returning to work.
If you have accepted a daily assignment but are no longer able to go because you are sick, contact the administrator as soon as possible, so that the absence can be filled by another OT.
Zero.
Because the board is no longer using the Q100 code, if you are sick and cannot work, you are expected to notify the admin and cancel the job. No compensation will be provided.
As a daily OT, you may qualify for up to 3 days of IDEL (Infectious Disease Emergency Leave) through the government.
If YOU are unwell, use a sick day.
If a family member is unwell, or requires your support to care for them, this should be entered as a family care day.
If you are in an LTO, you have access to 2 family care days.
If you are sick, and need to be away for an extended period (greater than 6 days) contact the WRDSB Wellness Department. They will work with you and your health professionals to make sure a medical leave can be set up (if needed).
A medical leave will first be paid under the amount remaining from the STLDP days you have remaining (Short Term Leave & Disability Plan). This number can be found in the Self Service Portal. A Medical Leave under STLDP is paid at 90%.
If you are in an LTO, you would not be paid beyond the last day of your job, even if you are on an approved medical leave.
For these inquiries, please contact the local.
The following information has been provided by the WRDSB and the provincial government:
- Masking is not required
- Testing is not required
- The self-screening is not required
- A mask may be required after international travel as determined by the federal government. However, we are not to inquire about travel details from students for the purpose of determining whether they should be wearing a mask.
- You may return to school if symptoms have been improving for 24 hrs. If you are still testing positive, or still have symptoms, you are allowed to return if you are improving.
- There is no isolation period.
- Sick staff are allowed to work if they are able.
- Symptomatic students should be sent to the office.
ETFO maintains its position that for the safety of staff and students, sick individuals should not be at school.
CYBER ATTACK, ROE, & RELATED INFO
Most systems are working again, however there are some things still experiencing issues. If you are aware of any, contact IT Services.
The email from the WRDSB indicated that a great deal of personal information was taken, including banking information, SIN numbers, addresses and other personal information.
Because of the type of information taken, employees are at risk of identity theft and fraud. Please be careful.
The WRDSB has provided access to identity theft and fraud protection. The email from the board regarding this is NOT SPAM. You can sign up for the credit monitoring if you wish.
The ROEs (Records of Employment) should all have been submitted to Service Canada, and all EI claims should have been assessed by this time.
If Service Canada has NOT received your ROE, contact the WRDSB.
If Service Canada has received your ROE, but your EI claim is still pending, contact Service Canada.
If you were underpaid, or missed a pay entirely, contact the payroll department. They are still working to correct all the errors that resulted from the cyber attack.
If you were OVERPAID, the WRDSB will notify you, and the overpayment will be recovered as outlined under the terms of our Collective Agreement.
- This means that the WRDSB can deduct 5% of your gross pay from each pay period until the full amount is recovered.