October 2020

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS STRONG!

OCTOBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

MEMBERS WORKING FOR MEMBERS

111-1555 St. James Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 1B5

Phone: 204-953-0250 Fax: 204-953-0259 Office Email: wante@mymts.net Website: www.wante.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/WANTEWpg Twitter: @WANTEwpg

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Message from the President - Carla Paul Welcome back W.A.N.T.E. members! I hope all of you had a chance to relax and recharge during the summer break. Once again, summer has come and gone, and classes are underway. School openings can be demanding and stressful under normal circumstances. As we enter into the 2020-2021 school year, we need to remember we are paving the way to a new normal. For some, that means new assignments, and new protocols and procedures for staff and students, which can be overwhelming. We will continuously face changes made to public schools, learn of updated government mandates, and live in the constant of an unknown; all of these adding stress to those working in schools. This year, more than ever, I encourage you to work together, navigating these unprecedented times, by striving to create a positive work environment that is beneficial to everyone. At this time I would like to take this opportunity to thank Pam Elliott for all the time and effort she has given, all of her hard work, and her unconditional support to W.A.N.T.E. and its members, as Vice-President. Pam has resigned from her position as Vice-President of

W.A.N.T.E.* I would also like to thank Tami Forbister for all of her support, contributions, hard work, time and effort she has given to W.A.N.T.E. and its members, as your EA-D rep, and as the Newspaper Editor. Tami has resigned her position of EA-D rep and Newspaper Editor. I wish them both well, wherever their journeys take them. I cannot begin to express the experiences and knowledge I have gained by serving as your president over the past nine months. This journey has been both challenging and rewarding. As we continue to move forward, I am unsure what this year will bring. With that said, W.A.N.T.E. will continue to work hard for its members in new, innovative ways. We will strive to share information efficiently, continue to be transparent, and adapt our day-to-day business. I can be reached at wante@mymts.net Stay safe, stay well, and have a great year!

* As per our Constitution: Section D - Vacancy 1. A vacancy occurring in any office other than the president shall be filled by the Executive committee from among the members in good standing. This officer shall hold office for the balance of the term.

In January 2020, a vote was held between two Executive members, Pam Elliott and Irene Costa-Palanco. At that time, Pam was the successful candidate. Due to Pam’s recent resignation, a vacancy became available for W.A.N.T.E. Vice-President. The Executive agreed that it was fair for Irene Costa-Polanco to step into this role, as she had originally caucused for the position. With Irene becoming the Vice-President, there was a vacant position for Member-at-Large.

In the May 2020 election, Bruce Zilkowsky had put his name forward for Member-at-Large. He had the greatest number of votes, following Irene and Amanda. The Executive felt that it would be fair for Bruce to move into the position of Member-at-Large.

The Executive presented a motion to Council regarding the above vacancies and members. Council voted on the motion presented, and the motion was carried. Irene Costa-Palanco is our new Vice-President, and Bruce Zilkowsky Member-at-Large.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and welcome our new Council members, Jo-Anne Britton EA-C rep, Tracey Anderson EA-A/B rep, and Allison Baker-Thiessen EA-D rep. I look forward to working with you all.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

President Message 1

Executive Vacancy 1

Vice-President Message 2

Collective Bargaining 2

Membership 2

Policies 2

Parking Fees 2

Liaison Reps 3

Social Committee 3

PD Committee 3

Labour Ed. 3

Executive & Council 4

Benefit Changes 5

Resilience EAP Program 5

S.H.A.R.P. 5

S.S.P.D Conference 5

Additional Hours 6

LivingWorks 6

W.H.M.I.S. 6

Pension 6

Important Information 7

Breaks 7

List of Retirees 8

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OCTOBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

Message from the Vice-President - Irene Costa-Polanco I hope everyone had a wonderful summer, we made it through our Covid-19 kind of summer break. We are all rested and ready to tackle our school year. I am very excited and looking forward in representing the membership in my new role as your Vice-President. My goal is to represent every member to the best of my ability. I am excited to be working with an amazing and committed group of individuals on Executive and Council. Who I know

have the knowledge, experience and strength to assist us all. Together we will navigate this course of Covid-19 and come out stronger than ever as an association. Along with the duties of Vice-President, I will also be the

Chair of Liaison Committee. If you have any questions or

suggestions, please feel free to contact me. I can be

reached at: wantevicepres@mymts.net

Collective Bargaining - Ashley Gushulak Hello fellow W.A.N.T.E members. I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. I am Ashley Gushulak. I have been a W.A.N.T.E member and an employee with the Winnipeg School Division for 13 years. Currently I am the Chairperson of Collective Bargaining and Workplace Safety and Health. Throughout my years within the Division I have been a liaison representative, Educational Assistant Level D representative, a Council member and currently a Member at Large on Executive. I look forward to

reconvening with the Collective Bargaining Committee and getting to work!!

Your Collective Bargaining Committee is: Ashley Gushulak (Chair), Tricia Wiebe (Co-Chair), Amanda Ferbraché, Michelle Short, Bruce Zilkowsky, Chris Hayden, Brittany Morrison, Ben Lacoix, Rod Fraser, and Irene Costa-Polanco.

I hope everyone has a safe and healthy school year!

Parking fees for 2020/2021 will be as follows, exclusive of GST: With electrical outlet - $241.50 per annum Without electrical outlet - $215.25 per annum

Policies and Procedures - Amanda Ferbraché

The committee’s responsibilities are to review the Constitution/Bylaws and Standing rules. We keep a record of all necessary additions, deletions, corrections and amendments that would occur during the 2019-2020 year, as well as making any recommendations or changes to the Constitution / Bylaws and the Standing Rules. If you would like any other information or have any suggestions please contact me at: memberal3@mymts.net

Membership - Michelle Short

The W.A.N.T.E. Office will once again be sending out membership updates. Please review your personal information and make any necessary changes on the bottom half of the form, sign, and return it to your W.A.N.T.E. Liaison Representative for group return, or drop it in the Division courier envelope. Please return to the W.A.N.T.E. office as soon as possible as we do not receive any employee information from the division. This will take place in the first few weeks in October. I would like to express our appreciation to those reps returning this year. To all new reps, we are looking forward to having you be part of the team! I can be reached at: memberal1@mymts.net

Labour Education - Bruce Zilkowsky The Labour Education Committee is looking for suggestions for possible webinars or smaller workshops. Labour Ed. usually hosts 3-4 workshops throughout the school year. Please contact Bruce at memberal2@mymts.net with any ideas or suggestions.

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OCTOBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

My name is Tricia Wiebe. I have been involved with our union for over 8 years. I have been part of the social committee for more than 5 years and am now its chairperson. It is with much regret that I report that we must cancel the W.A.N.T.E. 2020 ANNUAL DINNER. This event is so special to our organization because it is a night where we celebrate the hard work and dedication of all our members; as well as, honour those that have retired within the past year. Our committee is working to determine the best way we can still publicly honour all the retirees within the parameters that COVID-19 continues impose on us. I personally would love a picture of all the retirees to be made into a video to be posted on the website. If you know a retiree, please encourage them to submit a picture

and a memory of their working life. If you have a great picture you would like to submit on behalf of a retiree, please get their permission to do so. This format will not include pictures that show the faces of students or names of students. Memories may include work locations. These submissions can be emailed directly to me at: wantesecretary@mymts.net Please indicate the name of the retiree in the subject line. Be brave and be proud of the work you have done in the lives that have been influenced because you were there! Please review the list of retirees, if there are any discrepancies or if you are aware of a member retiring from your work location who has not been listed, please call the W.A.N.T.E. Office at (204) 953-0250.

Liaison Reps - Irene Costa-Polanco Welcome Back! I hope you all had a restful Summer, even though it was a different kind of rest. The Liaison Committee is responsible for promoting goodwill between the Association and the members. Through regular meetings with you, the Liaison Representatives throughout the year and providing information about activities and the goals of the Association to our members. This year’s Liaison Committee members are: Irene Costa-Polanco (Vice-President/Chair), Jennifer Derrett (Co- Chair), Tracey Anderson, Allison Baker- Thiessen, Gail Barker, Jo-Anne Britton, Ashley Gushulak, Brittany Morrison and Michelle Short.

Due to our Covid-19 school year our regular meetings this year, will have to be done in an alternate way. We are working hard at looking at how we can make this happen and will keep you posted. The Liaison Rep forms have been sent out to your work locations. Please take some time to update the forms and send it back to the W.A.N.T.E. Office as soon as possible. We will continue to keep open communication with all representatives and members throughout this different school year that WE are all going through. I would appreciate any feedback from the reps and members. Please E-mail me at: wantevicepres@mymts.net. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you all sometime soon.

Social - Tricia Wiebe

Professional Development - Brittany Morrison Professional Development funding is available to our members from Winnipeg School Division and from W.A.N.T.E. Any members seeking funding must first apply through WSD and then to W.A.N.T.E. WSD PD Funding forms should be available at your work location and the W.A.N.T.E. PD Forms are available on the W.A.N.T.E. website. Funding is given up to $250.00 to an individual once per year or $500.00 for group funding of more than 5 people. If you have any questions please E-mail me at: wantetreasurer@mymts.net

RESILIENCE - EAP PROGRAM A full-service Employee Assistance Program supporting health at work, at home and in life. Resilience offered exclusively through Manulife, can help with Counselling Services, Plan Smart/Career Smart Services and additional online services for you and your eligible family members. Access Resilience by phone 1-866-644-0326 (toll-free line is available 24-hours, seven days a week). Access all Resilience online features by visiting:

www.myresilience.com Contract # 107516 Group # is your employee number

OCTOBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

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BENEFIT RATES • Changes to Extended Health and Dental effective September 1, 2020. • Changes to Group Life Insurance Plan effective January 1, 2021. Option to increase your Group Life coverage

to 6x or 7x your annual salary will be discontinued. It will also no longer be possible to increase your Group Life Insurance above $ 1 million. • Extension of insurance coverage for temporary CoVid-19 layoffs.

GROUP LIFE INSURANCE Effective October 1, 2020:

• Group Life Insurance rate is increasing by 0.01 per $1,000.00 of coverage.

FAMILY LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE • No change to premiums.

EXTENDED HEALTH Effective September 1, 2020: • Actives under 65 (based on 10 month premiums) $57.00 ($2.40 increase) Single • Actives under 65 (based on 10 month premiums) $121.80 ($4.80 increase) Family • Actives over 65 (based on 10 month premiums) $53.82 ($2.40 increase) Single • Actives over 65 (based on 10 month premiums) $115.44 ($4.80 increase) Family • Retirees (based on 12 month premiums) $60.55 ($1.90 increase) Single • Retirees (based on 12 month premiums) $121.10 ($3.80 increase) Family

DENTAL Effective September 1, 2020 • Actives (based on 10 month premiums) $32.40 ($1.20 increase) Single • Actives (based on 10 month premiums) $64.56 ($2.46 increase) Couple • Actives (based on 10 month premiums) $116.76 ($4.56 increase) Family

When eligible life events occur, you have 90 days before or after the life event to make changes to your coverage.

** For more detail go to www.wante.org/benefits or http://www.mpsebp.ca **

S.H.A.R.P. When it comes to safety and health concerns on the

job, proper reporting of accidents and potential hazards is essential to help prevent future accidents from occurring. W.S.D. supports and programs are implemented based on the documented needs in the classroom. Staff must report ALL incidents and ‘near misses’ on all safety concerns to the Safety and Health Alert and Response Phone (S.H.A.R.P.) line 204-789-0492 VOIP 100 492. Call the S.H.A.R.P. line when:

• You or a co-worker have been hurt.

• You see a potentially dangerous situation.

• You have been the recipient of a threat or physical force. By calling the S.H.A.R.P. line it will assist the W.S.D. health and safety officers in taking immediate corrective action and will also assist in collecting data that will mean better supports and resources in workplaces.

The Support Staff Professional Development Conference scheduled for October 23, 2020 has been cancelled.

Benefit Changes

OCTOBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

President Carla Paul W.A.N.T.E. Office

Vice-President Irene Costa-Polanco DMCI

Treasurer Brittany Morrison Tec-Voc

Secretary Tricia Wiebe Hugh John Macdonald

Member-at-Large Bruce Zilkowsky PCERC- AV Dept

Member-at-Large Michelle Short Mulvey

Member-at-Large Ashley Gushulak Isaac Newton

Member-at-Large Amanda Ferbraché Stanley Knowles

Junior/Senior High Clerk Katie Torgerson Andrew Mynarski

Elementary Clerk Jennifer Derrett Earl Grey

Non-School Site Clerk Sheera Maano PCERC - CSS

Computer Tech/Library Chris Hayden Admin Bldg #2 - RPTS

Educational Assistant A/B Kelly Bowen Norquay/Ralph Brown

Educational Assistant A/B Tracey Anderson David Livingstone

Educational Assistant C Gail Barker Ashland DLC

Educational Assistant C Jo-Anne Britton Lord Selkirk/William Whyte

Educational Assistant D Diane Proutt Victoria-Albert

Educational Assistant D Allison Baker Greenway

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Executive

Council

Carla Paul wante@mymts.net

Irene Costa-Polanco wantevicepres@mymts.net Liaison Committee Chair

Brittany Morrison wantetreasurer@mymts.net Budget & Finance Chair, PD Committee Chair, Pension

Tricia Wiebe wantesecretary@mymts.net Social Committee Chair

Michelle Short memberal1@mymts.net Membership Committee Chair

Bruce Zilkowsky memberal2@mymts.net Labour Education Chair, Pension

Amanda Ferbraché memberal3@mymts.net Policies Chair, Nominating Chair

Ashley Gushulak memberal4@mymts.net Collective Bargaining Chair, Workplace Safety & Health

Katie Torgerson - Newsletter Editor wantenewsletter@mymts.net

Löis Paré - WANTE Office Secretary wantesec@mymts.net

W.A.N.T.E. wants to keep in touch! If you know of a member at your work location who is off for an extended time due to illness or has had a bereavement in the family, please advise the W.A.N.T.E. office by phone or email, we will send out a sympathy, thinking of you, or get-well card.

OCTOBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

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Over the past few weeks the office received many calls and inquiries about extra duties and additional time. Each employee is owed their permanent hours only. Additional hours and duties may change each school year and are not guaranteed. It is important you know that seniority does not play a role in who receives the extra duties or additional time. School administration has the right to move EAs from one program to another, as well as allocate extra duties or additional time. As an employee, you have the right to decline the additional hours or extra duties.

It is imperative that W.A.N.T.E. members are reminded that social media sites SHOULD NOT BE ACCESSED during work hours, whether it’s from a W.S.D. computer or your own personal electronic device. Members are further cautioned against the use of social media to comment about co-workers, parents, and students, or participating in negative or defamatory discussions relating to their employment with the Division. The use of social media to express grievances toward students, parents, co-workers, or W.S.D. is not appropriate. W.A.N.T.E. members are urged to carefully consider the potential implications to their employment before posting any online commentary. It is common for concerned members of the community to take screenshots of social commentary made by members and submit them to the Division, with the expectation that action be taken against the member involved. You can be assured, they are addressed.

Additional Hours

Use of Cell Phones and Social Media During Work Hours

Head Secretaries and Liaison Reps

LivingWorks Start You will receive an E-mail from notifications@learnupon.com to create your account to complete your on-line training. This is a professional learning opportunity being provided through the W.S.D. in a commitment to mental health and well-being. Training should have been completed between Sept. 2nd-4th, with accommodations up until December 31st, if required. Course takes approx. 60-90 minutes to complete and should be completed during the work day.

W.H.M.I.S. is to be completed by all staff on-line through Safe Work Manitoba. In order to use the division approved disinfectant you are required to be W.H.M.I.S. certified. Gloves should be worm even when using diluted form of disinfectant. Soapy water is not a Health and Safety approved form of cleaning at this point.

Pension Members may contact the Pension & Benefits Department to ask general questions and to advise of their intent to retire. Going forward, members will receive their pension estimates, retirement options directly from Ellement Consulting. Members will also be providing retirement elections directly to Ellement Consulting. Member requests related to marriage break-ups or reciprocal transfers or buybacks of service can also be made directly to Ellement Consulting.

Your pension committee for the 2020-2021 year will be: Dawn Bronk, Brittany Morrison, and Bruce Zilkowsky.

Ellement Consulting Group 503 - 1780 Wellington Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B3 Telephone: 204.954.7300; Toll-Free (within Canada) 888.840.1045 Fax: 204.954.7310 E-mail: mailto:pension@ellement.ca> pension@ellement.ca

OCTOBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

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• It is your responsibility to record your absence in Absence Management every time you are going to be away. It is not your responsibility to find a substitute for your position.

• If you don’t report your absences you will be considered away without permission and could be disciplined.

• If you have been assigned extra duties for lunch or bussing or additional hours for the year, you are paid those hours each day, even when you are away ill or on a PD day.

• If you are having any difficulty accessing or using the Absence Reporting System, please contact the Help Desk directly at 204-789-0475.

• Vacancies are only posted for 5 days on Employee Connect.

• For any positions/vacancies that are advertised on Employee Connect, you must apply to be considered.

• For all C & D positions you must have a valid RELATE* certificate. *The Division has replaced NVCI training with the RELATE (Regulate, Empathy, Learn, Adapt, Team and Experience) virtual training. The training will take place on “Microsoft Teams” from 9:00am-3:30pm on the following dates. Please see the W.A.N.T.E. website for more information.

RELATE*: Friday, October 23, 2020 Wednesday, December 9, 2020 Wednesday, February 10, 2021

First Aid/CPR-Training: Friday, October 23, 2020 Friday, November 20, 2020

Future workshop dates will be announced

• For all clerical positions you must pass Prove It to be considered for the short list.

• Advise Payroll if you have changed bank account information over the summer.

• Ensure that your Group Life Insurance Plan beneficiary designation is up to date and accurately reflects any recent changes to your life and circumstances.

• Ensure that your personal information (address, phone number, E-mail address and emergency contacts) are accurately recorded in Employee Connect.

• If you have a life changing event in your life and either need to opt out or in, or change your health benefit coverage, you have only 90 days to advise W.S.D.

• MEDICAL NOTES - If you are going to be off work due to illness for longer than 3 days, you require a medical note to be able to return to work. If you are going to be off work for surgery or an extended illness you should contact Human Resources to let them know you are going to be off and provide them with your medical note. Prior to returning to work you must submit a medical note clearly stating the date of your return, that you are physically fit to return to work “with no restrictions”, or the Doctor needs to detail the restrictions for your return. Remember that some restrictions may mean you are unable to return to your current position and may require some accommodation by being redeployed to another location. Human Resources needs to know this in advance of your return in order to make those accommodations where possible.

Important Information

3 or more hours in a day = 1 paid 15 minute break.

6 hours or more in a day = 2 paid 15 minute breaks.

5 hours or more in a day = minimum 30 minute unpaid lunch break.

Breaks are not to be used to shorten your work day.

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Please review the above list of retirees and if there are any discrepancies, or if you are aware of a member retiring from your work location who has not been listed, call the W.A.N.T.E. Office at: (204) 953-0250.

Members, if you know of a retiree, please encourage them to submit a picture and a memory of their working life. If you have a great picture you would like to submit on behalf of a retiree, please get their permission to do so. Retirees please submit pictures, information, and memories that may include work locations, but not the names or faces of students. Please see page 2 for more details. These submissions can be emailed directly to me at wantesecretary@mymts.net.

Theresa Agnew Isaac Brock Anita McGavock Garden Grove

Sylvia Armenti David Livingstone Randall McMurray Elmwood

Darcy Ballard Laura Secord Maria Machado Wellington

Antonio Bello-Reyes Grant Park Wesley Mann Andrew Mynarski

Diane Besyk Faraday Christine Martin Wolseley

Patricia Buckingham Sisler Helena Moniz Sargent Park

Cindy Charlton Luxton Joan Moore Carpathia - CSS

Deborah Da Silva Inkster Victoria Mowchun PCERC - IDSS/Gladstone

Geri Dondo Sister MacNamara Deborah Nafostowicz Sisler

Deborah Dworan Niji Mahkwa Doris Nanowin Shaughnessy Park

Erin Foreman Prairie Rose Nida Olea Shaughnessy Park

Deborah Grandpre Gordon Bell Vera Olender Elmwood

Deborah Grausdin Weston Charlene Pirrie 136

Girma Habte Sisler Catalina Ropitsch 136

Judy Herget Gordon Bell Barbara Santos Garden Grove

Kim Hjorleifson Robertson Mark Stevens Grant Park

Cynthia Hornstein Sisler Raymond Stevenson Isaac Newton

Linda Hubel Lord Roberts Leslee Strauman Elmwood

Thomas Hughes Churchill Judy Taylor Robert H. Smith

Roxana Jolly Tyndall Park Lana Thiessen Churchill

Bonnie Klayh Dufferin Lisa Trager Admin Bldg 1–Sec Treas

Barbara Koerner Building Dept Lang Tran Grant Park

Debra Kozeluh Rockwood Arlette Wakeham St. John's

Michael Langtry Admin Bldg 2-RPTS Darlene Whyte Transportation

Sheryl Lohaza Building Dept Sally Winnemuller Elmwood

Edna McDougall Grosvenor Marlene Wood Norquay