President's Report

It seems somewhat odd to be writing my Annual Report and it is not yet the end of April, but timelines and publishing dates win out over the time of year. The job of WTA President is always interesting and this year even more so.

Before I get into the substance of my report, I want to remind everyone who we are. The WTA is the largest teacher local in the Province of Manitoba. We serve just over three thousand members including: teachers, administrators, support teachers, clinicians, consultants, Adult EAL teachers, substitutes and lab assistants. Our organization provides its own extended health plan (for active and retired members), dental plan and counseling services. The Association is also responsible for negotiating the terms and conditions of our collective agreement with The Winnipeg School Division.

WSD Pandemic Planning and H1N1:

My year began with a detailed review of the WSD's Pandemic Plan and lengthy discussion with the Division and Executive regarding a host of issues related to the plan. Ultimately the WSD accepted suggestions from the Association for changes, and a final Plan document was prepared and can be seen on the WSD's website. The H1N1 issue caused the Division to take extensive action across the system regarding cleanliness and hygiene. Thanks to a lot of hard work by all employee groups, and some luck, the H1N1 issue never materialized to the extent that was anticipated.

WTA and the Media:

Since the winter break in December, the WTA has been in the news on a regular basis. The results of contract negotiations and ratification, the snow day concern and a high school issue have played prominently over the last four months. When talking to the media it has always been my goal to provide accurate information in a manner that depicts the membership and the WTA in a positive professional light. This year has seen a significant increase in media inquiries over the previous year.

Contract Negotiations/Ratification:

The WTA and WSD successfully completed a round of contract talks which put in place a collective agreement that will expire at the end of June 1010. Prior to the ratification vote, Joan and I responded to inquiries over the phone and also met with a number of staffs to discuss the settlement. In the end the Agreement-in-Committee was ratified by a large majority of the membership. Since the ratification has occurred a new package has been prepared and talks will begin for the coming school year. I would like to thank Joan Fransen, Vice-President/Chair of Negotiations and her committee for the work they have done this year on behalf of the membership.

January 25th, 2010 Snow Day:

This issue generated the largest number of contacts over the shortest period of time that I have ever seen in the WTA office. Once the 204 WTA members received their letter requesting a doctor's note or short leave, the WTA and WSD were in regular discussion regarding the issue. The Association expressed concerns over the lateness of the request for a note, the wording of the letter sent, media comments by trustees, to name just a few. It is our understanding that no member was docked pay for the day. The issue of inclement weather and being present at work will be discussed further with the WSD in the coming year.

High School Issue:

I will begin this discussion by saying the members directly involved in the issue received on-going support and representation throughout the process. Beyond that, it is important to note that the WTA and the WSD will be discussing a number of issues that have arisen as a result of this incident. The Association has asked the Division to provide information regarding how members will be protected from unauthorized recording of their images or voice and the posting of this material on the Internet.

The events of the last few months have made it clear that the use of cell phones in schools and the posting of information on the Internet can have a significant impact. As the employer, the WSD has an obligation to ensure that everyone in the school environment is protected from these types of unauthorized actions. The Division needs to make clear what their policies have (develop new policies, if required) and ensure staff, students and parents understand what consequences are in place for the violation of these policies.

The Manitoba Teachers' Society:

In the spring of this year, the WTA Executive recreated an Ad Hoc Committee - Secession from The Manitoba Teachers' Society. The Committee has met twice to discuss the issue, write a report and make recommendations for the coming year. Without going into great detail, a number of concerns have been raised regarding MTS staffing, the Society's advocacy for Provincial Bargaining; and, the value members receive for the over $2 million paid in fees each year. The WTA is the second group reviewing the issue of secession. The Louis Riel Teachers' Association just received a report at their Annual General Meeting in April that looked at the feasibility of leaving MTS.

WTA Executive and Council:

The WTA is an organization in transition. If you look at the Executive and Council there are fewer of us "old grizzled veterans" coming to meetings. The face of the organization is becoming much younger and this will continue in the years to come. To all of those who have let their name stand for an elected position on the Executive or who have volunteered to serve on Council or a committee, I would like to say thank-you. It is through your commitment and efforts that the WTA continues to operate in the manner it does and provide the high level of service we do.

In Closing:

In preparing to write this report, I reviewed what was said about the WTA "office team" last year to try and find new words to express my thanks for their support and guidance. The WTA office team consists of the Administrative Assistant, Glenda Shepherd, the Vice-President, Joan Fransen, and the WTA's Business Agent, Henry Shyka. Much of the good work completed by our organization would not take place without their continued efforts and input. On a personal note, each has provided wise counsel over this past year and for that I am very appreciative.

Respectfully submitted by,
Dave Najduch, President