Preamble:
This FAQ is designed to provide answers to common questions. If you notice that your situation is different from the questions in the FAQ, contact the office.
All these answers are for information purposes only. Contact the Office if you are in a situation where your collective agreement rights are not being followed.
(numbers in parenthesis are the sections in the Collective Agreement these answers come from)
Leaves:
Can I use a sick day if a family member is sick or has a medical appointment?
(7.02) Members can take up to five (5) sick days as Family Medical Leave in a year. Family in this clause includes a member’s parent(s), spouse/partner, or child, or a relative permanently residing with the Teacher. Days are deducted from your sick bank.
How many days of Bereavement leave do I receive when someone passes?
(7.04) Five days for parent, step-parent, spouse/common-law partner, child/step-child/ward of the Teacher, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or a relative permanently residing with the Teacher.
Three days for child-in-law, sibling-in-law, or parent-in-law.
One day for aunt or uncle.
I need to attend a funeral, how many days am I allowed?
(7.04) You can save one day from a bereavement leave to be used after the death has occurred and within six months to attend a service or funeral. You need to tell HR (via email would suffice) that you intend to save the date for later usage.
You may take one day with pay if you are attending a funeral as a pallbearer, if you have not received bereavement leave for the death in question.
I’ve been called in to appear in court; Do I get paid?
You will be paid your full salary if you have been subpoenaed as witness for an issue that is not about your own private and personal business. Same applies if you are called in for Jury Duty.
You are required to give the division any money that are renumerated/remitted from the courts to cover your time (this does not include food, travel or room reimbursements.)
Can my employer ask for a sick note?
Yes, the employer can ask for a sick note at any time.
Where can I find information about Maternity/Adoptive/Parental Leaves?
The WTA Group Benefits committee hosts two seminars throughout the year. The seminars are in the evening and supper is provided. An MTS Staff Officer will discuss the information and answer any questions regarding Maternity/Adoptive/Parental leaves. Watch for announcements on the news feed, on the WTA billboard in your staff room, or our socials. There is also information found here regarding the leaves: https://www.mbteach.org/mtscms/index.php/maternity-parental-leave/
Extra Curricular:
Am I required to coach, run clubs, etc?
(6.04.1) All extra-curricular activities are voluntary.
How many extracurricular hours do I need to work to get a day off?
(6.04.5) You are entitled to one paid day for every 50 hours up to a maximum of three days for 150 hours.
(6.04.6) You can use 25 hours for a half-day paid leave up to two times for one day of your three maximum.
Can I take my Extracurricular leave day at any time?
(6.04.12.b) You are not able to book days that fall on PD, admin or parent-teacher days, unless you receive special permission from the division.
(6.04.4) An eligible extracurricular activity has received prior approval from the school principal.
(6.04.10) Leave requests must be submitted at least five days in advance of the requested leave.
Timetables:
*How long is the instructional day?
(6.02) The instructional day is 5 and ½ hours.
What time do I need to be at work?
The Public Schools Act states you need to be at work 10 minutes before the start of the school day.
How much prep time should I have in my schedule?
(6.01.1) All teachers must have a minimum of 210 minutes of prep time in a six-day cycle.
(6.01.4) Wherever possible, prep time shall be scheduled in blocks of not less than thirty minutes.
I have lost a prep, does it need to be returned?
If you have lost a prep due to supervision or coverage, and losing the prep brings you below the minimum prep time, you must be paid your prep back within a six-day cycle.
Do I get a lunch?
A 55 minute uninterrupted lunch must be provided between 11:00am and 2:00pm.
Principals are entitled to the same lunch, but must be on call to deal with issues over the lunch period
Can I be assigned duty before classes start?
Yes, for the 10 minutes before the start of the instructional day you can be assigned duties.
Part-Time teachers:
I am a part time teacher, do I need to attend staff meeting?
You are required to attend staff meetings that occur on the day of, and adjacent to your part time hours.
My principal has asked that I attend a PD day outside of my normal work hours, do I need to attend?
(3.02.2) If you principal has asked you to attend, you are required to attend. The division is required to pay you for the day.
Pay Stubs:
Why is my pay less in September?
Your pay varies cheque to cheque in small amounts due to TRAF, EI, CPP, CPP2, and Federal Tax differences. Particularly noticeable is the drop that comes from August to Septembers pay. The biggest difference in August is that TRAF is not collected. It is not collected over the summer.
I have upgraded my qualifications, what do I need to do?
(2.02.2) You must contact the division and provide documentation that your qualifications have increased, that you have registered it with the department of Education, and that the department accepts your increased qualifications. Your increase in qualification will take effect the first of the month following the date of the submission of the documents.
Other:
I would like to transfer from my current job assignment, how do I do that?
(5.10) Teacher Initiated Transfers: You will need to notify the division by sending an email to your HR representative for your family of schools detailing that you wish to transfer from your current position. The notice needs to be submitted in early March.
What is the deadline to retire/resign from the division?
If you wish to retire/resign as of December 31, you must give notice to the division on or before October 31.
If you wish to retire/resign as of June 30th, you must give notice to the division on or before April 30. (Teacher Schedule C contract)
I have been injured at work, what do I need to know?
(7.03)
If you suffer an on-the-job injury, you will not lose sick time for your days absent. The division will reimburse up to $1000.00 to you for out-of-pocket expenses that go over our health plan coverages, or that are not covered by the health plan.
I received an “intention sheet” at school. What does this mean?
The sheet is intended to help your principal organize the following year’s schedule. It is for information purposes only. You are not bound by your answers in the sheet.
I am planning to retire, and I would like to apply for the sub list. What do I need to know?
When you give your notice to the division for your retirement, include in your notice you would like to remain as an employee on the sub list. The division will move your information and activate you as a sub.
If you wait until after you retire to apply, you must go through the entire hiring process, including safety checks and interviews.
Note that the division is entitled to accept or deny your request to be added to the sub list.
WSH
I need to contact a Workplace Safety and Health Advisor (formally Safety Officer); who is the one for my school?
There are three safety advisors for the division:
i. Cindy Henning:
1. Sisler/New School FOS
2. R.B./Argyle/Elmwood FOS
ii. Kelly Morin
1. Churchill/Grant Park FOS
2. DMCI/Tec FOS
iii. Calista Ngo
1. Kelvin/Gordon Bell FOS
2. COTE/St. John’s FOS
How do I report a violent incident that happened to me?
You can report an incident in two ways:
1. On employee connect, there is the incident tab. This allows you to use dropdown menus to report the incident.
The items with a red star are required information. Complete the information. Click Save at the top to submit the form. A copy will be created in your incident folder. The Division will receive a copy as will the principal of the school.
2. Call and leave a message on the SHARP line. 204-789-0492. This is an automated line with prompts. The message will be transcribed and sent to the appropriate Workplace Safety and Health Advisors and site supervisor.