Good afternoon PSAC555 members.

In the contents of this email you can find:

  1. Webinars and Ratification Vote information for the TA/RA & Invigilator Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  2. Member Volunteer Opportunities
  3. PSAC COVID19 $10,000.00 Emergency Fund and 2020/21 Academic Year Budget vote results and information
  4. Other PSAC555 Funds and Food Cards
  5. PSAC National Resources
  6. Applying for EI and other Government Supports
  7. Asynchronous VS Synchronous Online Courses are still 3 credit hour course and worth a full contract.

 

Webinars and Ratification Vote for the TA/RA & Invigilator Agreement.

We will be holding an electronic vote for members of the Teaching Assistants (TA), Researching Assistants (RA) and Exam Invigilators to ratify the tentative agreement between PSAC and Ontario Tech University.

We will be holding eight (8) webinars, information sessions on May 26st, May 27th, June 3rd, June 4th & June 5th

As per PSAC Regulation 15, you must attend an informational session to be eligible to cast your vote. Attendance will be tracked and only those who attend will have their member profile updated on the eVoting system, enabling them to vote. PINS will become active on May 27th.

 

The voting period will open on May 27th, 2020 and close on June 7th, 2020 at 6:00pm.

IMPORTANT INFO FOR WEBINARS:

When you register for a webinar, you will be sent a confirmation email with the option to either log in on your computer, tablet or phone, or you can call the toll free number provided in the email to participate by phone.

You can register for one of the dates at the following link:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/8208935528317157903

Highlights of being a PSAC555 member and the bargaining team achievements:

  1. Retro Pay and Retro Pay Increases.
  2. Pay Increase Momentum- The door is now open and as of September 2020 (with the retro pay) the increase will be at 2%, then 2021 another 1%..etc this is a good momentum.
  3. Initial paid training enshrined in the agreement, for Invigilators.
  4. Mechanism such as Letters of understanding, Joint Management Meetings and Grievance Process to address problems and any changes in their working conditions, such as fair hiring practices..
  5. Administration fund increased 5.08 that the local can use to help support the needs of the membership and help support our Community Funds.
  6. And the PSAC 555 bargaining team just negotiate a LOU for job protections during COVID19
  7. Other benefits: With unionization Invigilators are eligible to run for local positions, vote on budgets, create proposals for new funds.  They have access to funds such as the Hardship/ Medical Benefit Fund, the Professional Development Funds and the COVID19 Emergency Fund.

 

Speaker: Mathieu Brûlé, PSAC Negotiator

Members must attend an information session (approx. 30 minutes) at one of the listed times prior to completing the on-line voting.

If you have questions you would like to send to Mathieu for him to address in the webinars you can also send them to https://www.psac555.ca/contact-us/

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

We are looking for members who would like to join our local committees and/or become appointed referees for the community funds.

 

PSAC COVID19 $10,000.00 Emergency Fund and 2020/21 Academic Year Budget:

The fund and the budget was passed at General Membership town hall on May 20th,2020.

If you want to access the fund please go to our website www.PSAC555.ca, the fund policy and application is under the membership wellness tab.

We will start to process the first batch of applications on May 30th, 2020 and then the next batch on June 15th.

Once again, we will accept applications for the COVID 19 Emergency Fund every 30th/ 15th of the month until the fund is exhausted

Other PSAC555 Funds and Food Cards:

Please apply for the PSAC555 Hardship Fund and/or the Post Doctoral Fellow Fund,  Applications due by May 30th.

We also have Food Cards available if you need one please contact our office at: Office@PSAC555.ca

If you have a financial hardship, or in need of food or other support, you can also contact  https://211ontario.ca/ or call 211.

PSAC National Resources:

PSAC university sector landing page has been launched on the national website. The new landing page features:

 

  • The most frequently asked COVID-19 questions for university workers
  • The COVID-19 worker’s rights article
  • A university sector collective agreement depository
  • The Directly Chartered Local Handbook

The landing page will also feature the latest news involving our 37,000 university sector members

 

Applying for EI and other Government Supports:

The National Student Loan Center has suspended all payment and interest on Student Loans until September 30th, 2020.

There is also some emergency funding available for those who may not qualify for EI. Applications for this funding have been available since April 6, 2020.

If you need a ROE let our office know: Office@PSAC555.ca

Please follow this link for information on EI and other Government Supports:

http://psacunion.ca/psac-welcomes-government-measures-to-support-workers

Asynchronous VS Synchronous Online Courses – they are a 3 credit hour course and worth the full value of the contract.

Ontario Tech U has scheduled all 2020 Spring/Summer course online and they will be scheduling all Fall 2020 term classes online.

What is important is that it doesn’t matter if you are teach in an asynchronous learning style or in a synchronous learning style or a combination of both, if it is 3 credit hour course (over 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks), than it pays a full contract amount.

If you are teaching a CRN that has it our student enrollment (5 students, 250 students), do not let the university offer or pay you half a contract!

Come see us immediately, so we can help you resolve this issue!

OFFICE Hours

ERC1085 (the PSAC555 local office) will not be physically occupied until further notice. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office at Office@PSAC555.ca.

We are also able to do conference calls and google meetings with our membership- if you would like to chat.

Please stay safe and healthy my PSAC555 family and friends and we will follow up with you again soon.

In solidarity,

PSAC555 Executive.