These frequently asked questions can be answered by reviewing a copy of your most recent collective agreement. You can find a copy of your agreement in:
your Shared Drives, under Collective Agreements.
the emails from your Local Unit (ex. Monthly Newsbites).
the Members' Area at catholicteachers.ca , through OECTA Provincial.
Q: What should I do if I get triggered into the Attendance Support Program?
A: Take a deep breath - not to worry. Please wait until you receive an email from the Local Office with details on the options available to you.
Q: How many bereavement days am I entitled to?
A: For a mother, mother-in-law, father, father-in-law, spouse, child, sibling, grandchild ---
Part B: Article 14.02 a)
For a grandmother, grandfather, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew ---
Part B: Article 14. 02 b)
Q: What happens if my bereavement does not fit one of the above designations?
A: Information found at Part B: Article 14. 02 e)
Q: Does OECTA provide bursaries, grants or scholarships for OECTA members?
A: Yes. Information on eligibility and application criteria can be found on the Provincial website here.
Q: Does the Local Unit provide bursaries for the children of OECTA members?
A: Yes. The Local Unit provides a one-time bursary for eligibile candidates enrolled in their 1st year of a post-secondary program. An email will be sent to members' personal addresses at the end of May.
Q: What is the classroom cap for classrooms?
A: JK / SK: "The class size limit of a board that consists only of pupils enrolled in junior kindergarten and kindergarten is 29."
Primary (SK/1, 1, 2, 3): "A class for which this section applies shall have 23 or fewer pupils." O. Reg 132/12, s. 5 (1).
Junior / Intermediate: Information found at Part B: Article 16.01 b)
Q: Where can I find a copy of our Collective Agreement?
A: Using your WECDSB login information, you can click here to view our current language.
Q: How can I access Edvantage discounts on travel, accommodations, fitness & health services, etc.?
A: Edvantage website click here
Q: What is my Edvantage membership number?
A: It is the same as you OECTA I.D. number.
Q: When does the General Posting Process begin?
A: Information can be found at Part B: Article 15.03 sec. 2
Q: When should I find out about my grade assignment for the following academic year?
A: Information can be found at Part B: Article 15.03 sec. 1 b)
Q: When should I receive my tentative class list for the following acedemic year?
A: Information can be found at Part B: Article 15.03 sec. 6
Q: What should I do if there are extreme weather conditons (ex. snow, flooding) and I cannot make it to my worksite safely?
A: Information found at Part B: Article 17.02
Q: What should I do if I am injured while at work and/or on school property?
A: Members should:
Immediately report it to your Principal/Vice Principal.
Immediately seek medical attention.
Immedaitely contact the Local Office for "next steps". (519.969.4242)
Q: What should I do if my Principal / Vice Principal requests to meet with me?
A: Ask the following:
Is this meeting disciplinary in nature?
What specifically would you like to discuss in this meeting?
How long will this meeting last?
You can request that your Local Release Officers (President /Vice President) be present during the meeting.
***If at any time you are uncomfortable in a meeting with Adminstration, you can request the meeting to end so you can consult with your Release Officers before proceeding.
Q: How can I access / use my Urgent Personal Day?
A: Information can be found at Part B: Article 14.07 e)
**You do not need to provide additional information, although you should be prepared to provide proof should the employer ask.
Q: How can I access / use my Personal Day?
A: Information can be found at Part B: Article 14.07 e)
**You do not need to provide additional information.
Q: How do I access Pregnancy Leave?
A: Information can be found at Part B: Article 14.11 a)
Q: How do I access Parental Leave?
A: Information can be found at Part B: Article 14.11 b)
Q: When should a Safe Schools Incident Reporting Form be completed?
A: The Ontario Ministry of Education identifies reportable offences here.
Q: Who can complete a Safe Schools Incident Reporting Form?
A: Any teacher involved in a reportable offence is legally obligated to submit a report.
Any witness (Educational Assistant, Early Childhood Educator, Child & Youth Worker) to a reportable offence is legally obligated to submit a report.
Q: Where can I find the Safe Schools Incident Reporting Form?
A: Teachers can complete and submit through eBase.
Q: How many Sick Days am I entitled to each year?
A: Information can be found at Part A: Article 3.2
Q: What are Top Up Days (Carry Over Days) and how are they used?
A: Inforamtion can be found at Part A: Article 3.6.3
Q: What are Short-Term Leave Days and how many am I entitled to?
A: Information can be found at Part A: Article 3.3
Q: What should I do if I found an error in my school's supervision schedule?
A: Information found at Part B: Article 16.12 d)
Q: What should a school supervision schedule look like for members?
A: Information found at Part B: Article 16. 12 e)
Q: How many minutes of supervision can a full-time member be assigned over a two-week period?
A: Information found at Part B: Article 16.12 g)
Q: How many minutes of supervision can a part-time member be assigned over a two-week period?
A: Information found at Part B: Article 16.12 j)
Q: How do I know if I have been involved in a violent incident?
A: The Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act defines "violence" as:
The exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in the workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker.
An attempt to exercise physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker.
A statement or behaviour that is reasonable for a worker to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force agaist the worker, that could cause physical injury to the worker.
Q: Where can I find the Workplace Violence Incident Reporting Form?
A: Teachers can complete and submit through eBase.
Q: If any of the above-mentioned criteria apply, what should I do?
A: Members should:
Document the event for your own records. (ex. dates, times, witnesses, etc.)
Notify your Pricipal/Vice Principal about the incident.
Immediately contact the Local Office for "next steps". (519.969.4242)
This website does not constitute legal advice. To determine your rights and obligations under the Collective Agreement and its regulations, please contact your local unit office or refer to the Collective Agreement.
For further information on the Collective Agreement and its regulations, visit: www.catholicteachers.ca