Monday Memo – February 20, 2012
MEMO TO: Staff Reps
COPIES TO: STA Executive Committee
FROM: Denise Moffatt, President
Date: February 20, 2012
Special General Meeting called for this week, Bombay Banquet Hall at 4:00 pm
Given the recent developments and the potential for quick decisions to have to be made over the next few weeks, there will be a special general meeting this week on Wednesday, February 22nd. We have booked a large venue. It is important that members attend to hear critical updates. Laurence Greeff, STA endorsed candidate for Teachers’ Council, will attend the meeting.
AGM Delegates Elected at Special General Meeting – 7 spots left to attend BCTF AGM in March
Seven members will be elected to attend the BCTF AGM at the February 22nd Special General Meeting. The AGM is the largest decision making body of the BCTF. If you have never been, this year promises to be a hot ticket. Contact Lorna Sheh to put your name forward.
BCTF New Teachers’ Conference – STA Special Funding
We’d like to send 10 new teachers to the BCTF New Teachers’ Conference
There is funding available for the Conferences Educating for the Future on March 2–3, 2012 at Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport, 8181 Cambie Road, Richmond, BC. For info please use the following link to access the page:http://bctf.ca/NewTeachersConference2012/. To access funding email Lorna Sheh at the STA office to get your name on the list.
Opportunities for BCTF young workers
The BC Federation of Labour is holding a Young Worker Retreat, June 8–10, 2012, at Camp Jubilee on Indian Arm near North Vancouver. The BCTF will fund five young teachers (under 30 years of age) to attend. The workshops are aimed at both experienced activists and those new to union work. (For many, this will be their first union event.) For Program, details, and workshop choices please visit,http://bcfed.ca/files/1330-12bro-yw-retreat2012.pdf
If interested, please mail, fax, or e-mail a completed BCTF curriculum vitae form to David Halme in the Communications and Campaigns Division. A sparse CV is not an impediment to selection. The CV form can be downloaded at http://bctf.ca/OpportunitiesForMembers.aspx?id=6402
Deadline for application is Friday, May 18th, 2012.
Teacher Rally at Princess Margaret Secondary
On February 15th, teachers at Princess Margaret Secondary rallied in front of their school to draw attention to the decade of cuts that resulted from Bills 27/28. If you would like to hold a rally at your school, please contact the STA office.
Bills 27/28 Stories
We are looking for stories regarding class size and composition; the needs of special needs students; the devastation caused by the loss of teacher librarians , counselors and special education teachers; the lack of resources; the problems with portables; and so on. These stories will be given to opposition MLAs to read out in the legislature of back to work legislation is introduced and the MLAs decide to filibuster. Last time we were faced with back to work legislation, the legislature sat all night and opposition MLAs read out stories from teachers.
A possible topic could be, “If you had the opportunity to stand up in the legislature and give the Minister of Education a piece of your mind, what would you say?”
Please forward the stories to Lorna Sheh at sta@surreyteachers.org
BC Education Plan
George Abbott has a plan for education in BC. It is still rather vague. Parts of it are somewhat worrying. Other parts seem to provide positive opportunities, at least if the conditions for implementation are put in place. The Federation wants to hear from members about their reactions to George Abbott’s BC Education Plan. More importantly, we want to hear from members about what their plans would be for education in BC. To respond to George Abbott’s BC Education Plan, or to tell us Your BC Education Plan, go to the new online discussion forum on the myBCTF portal at https://www.bctf.ca/myBCTF/YourBCEducationPlan/.
MLA Lobby in Victoria
Surrey teachers Anne McNamee (Prince Charles and Lena Shaw) and Gurinder Sidhu ( Princess Margaret), along with STA President Denise Moffatt and 1st Vice-President Jennifer Wadge, are in Victoria today to meet with Surrey MLAs Gordon Hogg (Liberal), Dave Hayer (Liberal), Sue Hammell (NDP), Jagrup Brar (NDP), and Harry Bains (NDP). The purpose of today’s lobby was to give MLAs information about our concerns and to provide the perspective from classroom teachers. We’ll have a detailed report out later this week.
Day of Pink and Broken Promises
As we approach the Day of Pink on February 29th, it is important to note the lack of action by the premier and Ministry of Education on homophobia and transphobia in schools. You might want to share some of the information below from MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert with your students, especially those in Social Justice 12 and GSA clubs. Underneath Spencer’s letter, you will find the government’s track record and recent comments made in the legislature on this topic.
Pride Education Network has begun a campaign with Gay Straight Alliance clubs to call for government action. They are asking GSA clubs to sign a letter. If you are a GSA sponsor teacher and want to get involved, please e-mail me separately and I can forward you the letter, as well as the contact information. The deadline for GSA clubs to endorse the letter is February 25th, 2012.
Day of Pink posters can be viewed at http://www.bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=17992