April 28, 2022 at
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ESTWorkers’ Monument, Waterloo City Hall100 Regina Street SouthWaterloo, OntarioN2J 4P9
On April 28, our National Day of Mourning for workers injured, killed or made ill because of hazardous workplace exposures — we remember AND we recommit to the work of seeking justice for all.
PLEASE JOIN US!
Waterloo Regional Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Thursday, April 28, 2022, 11:00 a.m.
Worker’s Monument
City of Waterloo
100 Regina Street South, Waterloo
Guest Speakers:
From Labour and the Community
Contact:
Lorne Bruce, President, WRLC
(519) 635-8415
lornebruce@outlook.com
www.wrlc.ca
As OSSTF/FEESO prepares for the provincial election on June 2nd, we are working to better inform and mobilize members to vote, volunteer and donate. One of the ways we are looking to do this is by offering members the opportunity to receive riding-specific election information from OSSTF/FEESO through phone, text and/or email.
Members will receive updates on riding information such as endorsed candidates, campaign events and advance voting days. We encourage you to sign up for these updates here. You can view more information about OSSTF/FEESO’s election readiness plans and education platform, Strengthen Public Education — Rebuild Ontario, on the OSSTF/FEESO Provincial website.
The provincial election is set to take place on Thursday, June 2, 2022 and women need to mobilize and work together to defeat the Ford, anti-woman agenda. After four years of a Doug Ford government, with numerous cuts to women’s organizations, programs and social supports, followed by two years the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately impacted women, it’s time for women to fight back.
On April 12, 2022, to mark Equal Pay Day, Ontario’s party leaders Andrea Horwath, Steven Del Duca, and Mike Schreiner participated in a province-wide Party Leaders Debate on Women’s Economic Equality, hosted by journalist Nam Kiwanuka. Doug Ford did not attend this debate, and this speaks volumes to the importance that this government places on issues affecting women in Ontario. After a gendered pandemic, gender issues should be at the forefront of this election. This debate can be heard in English and French by visiting http://equalpaycoalition.org/leaders-debate/
It’s time for women in Ontario to mobilize, strategize, and organize!
On Saturday, April 23 join the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) Women’s Committee to strategize and organize to ensure that gender issues are on the table when it comes to the June 2 provincial election. This event is open to all women and allies in Ontario and OSSTF/FEESO is encouraging its members to attend.
The agenda will include a presentation titled ‘What’s at stake for women in the provincial election?’, a panel on what issues women candidates have included in their platforms, regional breakout groups, and a discussion on planning and mobilizing for the OFL May 1 Day of Action and beyond. This is a virtual event, and you can RSVP here: https://ofl.ca/event/womens-election-summit/
This is a fully accessible event with consideration for accommodation requests. If you require accommodations such as French interpretation, ASL interpretation, or closed captioning, please email cpaul@ofl.ca with the subject line “Accommodation Request: April 23”. The deadline for accommodation requests is April 15.
In December 2021, we were delighted to announce our partnership with Starling Minds, and we are excited to share with you that through OTIP, Starling Minds is now available to members and their families at no cost.
Starling Minds offers 24/7 access to a digital mental health platform that can help members proactively build healthier, more positive life-long habits into their daily lives and build resilience to stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression.
The impacts of the pandemic and its variants have created a massive strain on students, educators, and the education community. With constant school shutdowns and remote learning mandates, educators are working to maintain education standards for their students. However, it leaves little time and energy for educators to care for themselves.
To register for Starling Minds, members simply need to visit http://member.starlingminds.com/ and use the access code OSSTFMEMBER (all-caps).
We’ve created the attached communication to help you promote Starling Minds to members within your local units. Please share it in your weekly/monthly communications with members. A brochure is also attached for distribution to your members.
On May 5th, the team at Starling invites local OSSTF/FEESO leaders to join them for a 30-minute webinar to learn more about this digital mental health platform and how it can support your members in their mental health journey.
Sign up for the webinar here: https://info.starlingminds.com/may-5-leaders-session-osstf.
For any inquiry about Starling Minds, please reach out to Debra Stevens at Starling Minds: Debra.stevens@starlingminds.com.
If you would like to learn more about the partnership between OSSTF and Starling Minds please contact John Wells at John.Wells@osstf.ca.
Hello OSSTF Members,
Managing your stress and anxiety can be difficult and draining, so we wanted to remind you of the support our partners at Starling Minds have available for you to use.
Starling Minds offers 24/7 access to a digital mental health platform that can help you proactively build healthier, more positive life-long habits into their daily lives.
To register or log into your existing account, visit http://member.starlingminds.com/ and use the access code OSSTFMEMBER (all-caps) if you’re accessing the program for the first time!
You can also invite your family members to join Starling Minds by simply visiting http://member.starlingminds.com and using the access code OSSTFFAMILY (all-caps)
Make self-care a priority with Starling Minds.
Starling’s Live Events:
● Please see the attached brochure for more information about Starling Minds’ Mental Fitness Challenge and how to sign up for it. The Mental Fitness Challenge is a 6-week free initiative hosted by founder and Chief Science Officer Dr. Andrew Miki to help educators like you build resilience to stress, anxiety and burnout.
Starling offrira également un défi de forme mentale en français pour tous les éducateurs francophones. Plus de détails sur cette initiative française seront partagés dans les prochaines semaines.
● Starling also offers customized webinar sessions for your members to help them build confidence and acquire the skills and tools they need to feel more resilient and engaged in their lives. If you would like to schedule a webinar for your local unit, reach out to Starling minds at customers@starlingminds.com
For technical support or questions about the program, please reach out to members@starlingminds.com.
Waterloo Region Courthouse
May 01, 2022 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
85 Frederick St, Kitchener
On May 1, 2022, join the province-wide day of action for a better Ontario.
May 1, or May Day, is the traditional workers’ holiday, a day that working people celebrate the gains they have won over the years and commit to fighting for a better future for everyone.
In Kitchener-Waterloo on May 1, we’re hosting a rally and carnival of resistance.
It’s time for a $20 minimum wage, decent work, affordable housing, paid sick days, well-funded public services, livable income support for all, climate justice, status for all, and an end to racism and oppression. Join us!
Featuring Artists:
With the election less than two months away, we need your help to spread the word.
Step 1: Watch the video.
Step 2: Learn more about the ways Ford has failed Ontario here.
Step 3: Share the video and campaign with your friends, family, and wider community.
We need everyone to see just how paper thin Doug Ford’s record of supporting workers truly is. He’s in it for big businesses and wealthy developers—not for working people. The more we share this message, the larger our movement grows and the stronger our momentum becomes. So join us and get the word out there.
Share the campaign now:
Thanks for joining us in this fight.
Ontario Federation of Labour
The Provincial Schools Authority Teachers (PSAT), District 30, have organized several No Cuts to Education rallies over the last couple of weeks.
The rallies have been organized throughout the province to bring attention to cuts to funding that have consequently led to a systemic lack of resources and debilitating cuts to essential services that have had a tremendous negative impact on students and staff.
OSSTF/FEESO encourages neighboring districts to show their support and solidarity with the members in District 30.
Date: April 5, 2022
Location: Robarts School for the Deaf (1515 Cheapside Street, London, ON N5V 3N9)
Time: 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Location: W. Ross Macdonald School (350 Brant Ave, Brantford, ON N3T 3J9)
Time: 3:45 p.m.–4:45 p.m.
Over the last two weeks, there have been increasing reports of COVID infections in schools and
the community. Furthermore, there is growing recognition worldwide that this infection is
airborne. Despite the recent lifting of COVID-19 mandates in most public settings and schools in
Ontario, and a resulting presumption that the pandemic is over, OSSTF/FEESO continues to
maintain regular meetings with epidemiologist Dr. Amy Greer and consultations with legal
counsel to best inform and protect our members. Unfortunately, the current public health metrics
demonstrate that, contrary to what many members of the public are being led to believe, the
pandemic is most definitely not over and there is still much to do to ensure that members and
students are protected despite the lifting of mandates.
The rapid spread of the BA.2 omicron variant coupled with the removal of most protective
measures has resulted in pandemic Wave Six in Ontario. While it is apparent that the provincial
government prefers to ignore the evidence of this sixth wave, the fact is that as the number of
infections grow, hospitalizations for COVID-19 will also increase (23% higher than last
week). Best estimates from wastewater testing suggest that Ontario is currently seeing between
30,000 and 35,000 NEW infections each day. The BA.2 wave we are currently experiencing will
very likely place significant stress on our healthcare settings and healthcare resources more
broadly.
What is OSSTF/FEESO doing?
Provincial Office is committed to continuing our regular meetings with Dr. Greer and legal
counsel to make sure members and local leaders have accurate and current information
regarding the ongoing pandemic. An informed membership is key to ensuring the protection of
every member. OSSTF/FEESO continues to exert pressure on the Ministers of Health and
Education through regular demands advocating for the protection of our members even though
the government has declared the pandemic to be over. This advocacy is done through letters
from the President directly to the Ministers, media appearances and participation at various
Ministry tables. Templates of letters also advocating for preventative health and safety measure
to protect our members and school community are regularly sent to district presidents
encouraging them to continue these conversations with their local Boards and public health
units.
What you can do:
Make sure you are fully vaccinated. The good news is that vaccines still provide an
important layer of protection against the most severe outcomes but there are many
vulnerable people in our communities who are not able to rely on vaccine protection
(children under the age of 5, immunocompromised individuals, and vulnerable older
adults). Infections in these individuals (even if they have been vaccinated) can be lifethreatening. Many people have higher risk people in their households and families that
they need to help to protect. If you are eligible for a third dose of vaccine (everyone over
the age of 12), and have not yet received it, get your third dose. A third dose helps to
reduce your risk of infection as well as serious disease should you become infected.
Wear a mask in all indoor spaces (to protect against inhalation of virus particles that
float in the air like cigarette smoke).
Stay home if you have any symptoms or are feeling unwell. Respect the quarantine
days following infection.
If you test positive for COVID-19, take a picture of each positive test with proof of date
to support filing a WSIB claim if warranted.
COVID-19 is an air-borne virus
The Ontario Science table released information in December of 2021 just before the holiday
season in their document, Ask Ontario’s Science Table: Omicron Edition: “SARS-CoV-2 (the
virus that causes COVID-19) is airborne which means it can float around indoors and linger
unless the air in the room moves out of the room as quickly as possible.” https://covid19-
sciencetable.ca/sciencebrief/ask-ontarios-science-table-omicron-edition/download.pdf
The White House also recently published a blog post titled “Let’s Clear the Air on COVID,”
describing the virus as primarily transmitted through aerosols—small, tiny airborne particles.
“Though some experts around the world have been arguing that point for years, and
subsequently advocating for respirator use and enhanced ventilation systems, this is the first
time the White House has formally acknowledged that aerosol transmission has been the
primary driver of the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, it has turned away from the language
used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”
(taken from CIDRAP article: “White House diverges from CDC, focuses on aerosol COVID
spread” https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/03/white-house-diverges-cdcfocuses-aerosol-covid-spread)
Short videos about airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from University of Oxford.
https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/research/resources/aerosols-and-making-spaces-space
https://wlusa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/OSSTF-FEESO-Covid-19-Update-31.pdf
April 2022 | Issue 5
| April 2022 | Issue 5 Meeting the diverse needs of all students Many students require the help of a variety of educational professionals to meet their individual needs. Comprehensive, school-based health supports/services and rehabilitation services are crucial to student success, personal development, and health and safety in our schools. Our members include professionals who are educational assistants, student support professionals, deafblind interveners, early childhood educators, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, behaviour analysts, child and youth workers, instructors, and many, many more. In fact, OSSTF/FEESO represents members in over 230 different job classes working in both English and French languages. Did You Know? The government is currently reviewing how specialized supports are provided to students in schools and has proposed very concerning changes to the delivery model The delivery of specialized health and rehabilitation services are is directed by Policy Program Memorandum (PPM) 81 PPM 81 – Provision of health support services in school settings Some health support & school-based rehabilitation services in PPM 81: Administration of oral medication Injection of medication Catheterization, manual expression of bladder/stoma, tube feeding Assistance with mobility, feeding, toileting Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy Speech and Language Pathology Applied Behavioural Analysis Why you should be concerned about the Ford Government’s proposed changes to PPM 81? The changes: are not evidence-based ignore the professional experience and expertise about best practices from front-line professional student services personnel (PSSP), educational support staff, and early childhood educators will lead to decreased and inconsistent levels of support for students will reduce equitable access to services for equity-seeking groups and students from marginalized communities will permit increased privatization of delivery of supports and services by costly external service providers in schools will reduce capacity to respond to emergency situations involving students with complex needs will limit capacity for staff consultation and collaboration and reduce the efficiency of service delivery by creating new, additional, unnecessary barriers for students and parents/guardians OSSTF/FEESO is supporting members directly affected by the PPM 81 review Completed/Ongoing two town halls meetings to hear directly from members on the proposed changes to PPM 81 ongoing advocacy at various Ministry consultation/discussion tables submitted formal recommendations and positions to the government as part of the consultation process www.osstf.on.ca/-/media/Provincial/Documents/Resource-Centre/Briefs-and-Submissions/osstf-submission-ppm-81-review.ashx?sc_lang=en-CA In Development Advocacy resources and strategic support to Districts and Bargaining Units to help them prepare to advocate on behalf of members and students at the Board level when the new PPM 81 is released. You can help! If implemented, the proposed changes to PPM 81 could negatively affect all members of OSSTF/FEESO by impacting student success and professional interactions between education workers, teachers, students, and parents. Together, let’s stand up in defence of school-based health supports and rehabilitation services in Ontario schools! Small – Show solidarity with OSSTF/FEESO education workers and PSSP members who work at your school/site by introducing yourself and letting them know you don’t support the government proposed changes outlined in PPM 81. Medium – Learn more about the school-based supports OSSTF/FEESO members provide and the threat PPM 81 poses to the services students need and deserve. Share that information with family, friends, and neighbours. Large – Invite members to a meeting to discuss PPM 81 and develop a plan/event that will show support for OSSTF/FEESO members and students who may be affected by the proposed changes. Related Resources: OSSTF/FEESO Submission to the Ministry of Education – PPM 81 Review ETFO Submission to the Ministry of Education: Review of PPM 81, Provision of Health Support Services in School Settings |
Wilfrid Laurier University Staff Association Phone: (519) 884-0710 x2952 Office hours: © Wilfrid Laurier University Staff Association | Privacy Policy | Website by Sryde Digital Marketing
Contact
202 Regina St. N, Room R121
Waterloo, Ontario
Email: wlusaadmin@wlu.ca
Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
CONTACT US
