The safety and well-being of Teachers are paramount. That's why the Association has launched a crucial survey to better understand and address the issue of violence against Teachers in our schools.

This comprehensive survey, conducted in partnership with Pollara Strategic Insights, a leading Canadian polling firm, aims to:

• Assess the prevalence of violence and harassment within our schools.

• Understand the impact of these incidents on your teaching, student learning, and, most importantly, your mental health and well-being.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of current policies, reporting procedures, available training, and resources designed to support you.

Why is this Survey Important? 

Your participation is vital. The data collected will directly inform the Association's public advocacy campaigns, government lobbying efforts, member resources, and our preparations for the upcoming provincial bargaining round. Your insights will directly contribute to creating safer and more supportive working environments for all Teachers.

How to Participate

If you have registered your personal email address with the Association, you will have received an email invitation containing a unique link to access and complete the survey. Please check your inbox and spam folder for an email from us or Pollara Strategic Insights. Reach out to surveys@pollara.com with any issues.

Confidentiality Assured

Pollara and the Association guarantee that your participation and individual responses will remain completely anonymous and will be reported in aggregate only.

Important Deadline

The survey will remain open until April 7th. We strongly encourage every Catholic teacher to participate in this important study!

Your voice matters. Please take the time to complete the survey. Your insights will help us create positive change.

Complete the survey by April 7.

Teacher Transfer Process

As per our Collective Agreement, the board is required to inform teachers of their assignment for the 2025-2026 school year by May 3. 

As long as a teacher is qualified to teach the assigned grade/position, the principal has the authority to staff their school (under the Ed Act and Ontario College of Teacher’s Act) in the manner they deem fit. Seniority is not a mandatory consideration during this phase of school organization. While seniority is often the “cleanest” way to make changes, it is up to the discretion of the principal. For instance, if a primary classroom is lost and the principal needs to move someone to junior, they will consider qualifications, staff requests and may take seniority into account. However, if no one is willing to switch divisions, the principal has the final say in the decision.

The contract specifies the exact transfer process and outlines how surplus, supernumerary and redundancy are declared. 

There are three rounds of transfers, and if you are successful in a round, you cannot apply for a transfer in a subsequent round. This prevents teachers from transferring and taking a  position (and other teachers are unsuccessful), only to abandon it in a later round.

Once the transfer process begins, there is no 

shuffling of grade placement between rounds. 

This means that if the Gr. 3 teacher gets a transfer in round one, then Gr. 3 must be posted in round two. The school cannot internally reshuffle and post a different grade in round two, as doing so would breach the collective agreement. 

Teachers within the school can apply for the position in the transfer process, including a teacher who was deemed surplus.

For positions of responsibility, such as Special Education – In-School Resource, Teacher Librarian, Literacy Resource Teacher, Arts Itinerant Teacher, French as a Second Language Teacher, and English as a Second Language Teacher, these positions can only be applied to during transfers by teachers currently in the role. 

If someone is currently holding one of these positions and are considering a change, it is recommended that you reach out to your supervisor to discuss this, and/or reach out to the unit office.

If you were hired as a FSL or AIT teacher, you are limited to remaining in your position and will not be considered for other positions.

All newly hired teachers must enter the transfer process. This is stated on your contract and you should have received a reminder email about this as well.

Success in transfers is determined solely by seniority. 

Hamilton-Wentworth has negotiated what is considered the gold standard for transfers in the province. Many OECTA units in the province attempted to negotiate seniority based transfers into their collective agreements in the last round of negotiations. 

Seniority is determined by a teacher’s permanent hire date. In the case of a tie where two teachers were hired on the same day, their hire date as an OT is the tiebreaker. If this happens to be the same as well then days worked as an OT is the next tie breaker.

If the school organization for next year

means there is a loss of a classroom,

then the least senior teacher within 

the school is declared surplus. 

The teacher still has a job in the system, but not at the same school. Only the least senior teacher in the building can be declared surplus. However, if that means that there is no one qualified in the building to teach a particular grade, and the surplus teacher is qualified, then they will not be declared surplus. Instead, the next least senior teacher will be declared surplus. If a position opens back up due to increased enrolment or reorganization before August 31, the surplus teacher must be offered the chance to return to the school. This does not apply to newly hired teachers. In the meantime, a surplus teacher participates in the transfer process to find their new permanent position.

Supernumerary refers to the situation where the board retains a teacher as a permanent employee, but there are more teachers than there are permanent positions. Since a supernumerary teacher does not have a permanent position, they cannot participate in the transfer process. They are placed at the end of transfer rounds.

Despite a fair amount of hiring in August/September/October, the board indicates they expect to maintain many of the added positions and anticipate few supernumerary declarations.

Teachers who are newly hired, are hired into their position on a one year temporary basis. The position needs to be made available to all teachers in the transfer process at the end of the year. The only exception is if a position goes through all 3 rounds of transfers and remains unfilled. At that point, the teacher assigned to that position is there permanently (unless they successfully transfer out the following year).

All postings and transfers are reviewed by the OECTA office. 

If you see something that doesn’t make sense or become aware of a mid-round shuffle (or have other questions) please let the office know so that we can look into it. It is better to say something and have it check out, than not to say something and accept a breach of our collective agreement.

To access the transfer list, there is a link on MySite Employee Centre. Sometimes there are delays and the site may not be active right at 9am. Please hold off on emailing Chris Doyle if it isn't active right away. 

All the best as we enter this last phase of the school year!

Alison

Harry Somerville: A Catalyst for Hope

“He will be motivating me until the day I die...no one else ever helped me.” This quote from a former drug addict gives witness to the effect that the life of Harry Somerville had on those he encountered. 

Born May 5, 1934, and raised in Hamilton, Harry attended Catholic schools where he later returned to teach. Mr. Somerville was a caring and loving teacher. His leadership potential was recognized as he assumed responsibility as principal and subsequently as founder and coordinator of Pastoral Services in 1980. Wherever he served, his tremendous love for God and his unrelenting zest for living to the fullest inspired others to believe in and use their God-given talents.

Never satisfied with his outreach to the poor and dispossessed, Harry joined the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd in 1984. His quest to follow Jesus unconditionally led him to the slums of Miami where, at Camillus House, he worked tirelessly to rehabilitate drug addicts.

It was in pursuit of a greater understanding of addiction and its prevention that his great heart burst. Harry Somerville died in his sleep in New Mexico on April 10, 1994. 

Sal Longley: An Inspiration to Learn and to Give

Sal Longley was an exemplary teacher; a caring and courageous individual. Her perseverance, determination, and thirst for knowledge encouraged her students to set high standards for themselves, and propelled them forward toward success. Teaching in both the high school and elementary levels, she consistently instilled in her students a love of learning, especially in the field of English Literature, an area in which she received her Master’s Degree. 

Sal firmly believed in providing students with the necessary tools so they could pursue, explore, and expand their knowledge. In keeping with helping those in need, Sal was instrumental in coordinating a small group of teachers at St. Anthony of Padua School who volunteered to gather used clothing and toiletries for the elderly and homeless at Christmas time. Bearing the name "Christmas Charities" , Today, families within the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board are provided with food hampers and gifts for their children through OECTA Christmas Charities. Sal would be very proud to witness the continuation of her efforts of those in need.

Sal fought numerous battles and faced many difficult decisions concerning her health. As in all facets of her life, she persevered and accepted her limitations, but only as a means to empower her further - a truly remarkable and courageous teacher.

The OECTA provincial Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance plan provides vital income and pension protection if you become unable to work due to illness or injury. However, there are specific situations where you might consider terminating your LTD coverage and stopping premium deductions.

When Can You Cancel Your LTD Coverage?

You may be eligible to cancel your LTD coverage under the following circumstances:

Scenario 1 - 60%  Unreduced Service Pension

• • You are currently eligible for a 60% unreduced service pension, or you will be eligible within the later of the next 110 working days or the expiration of your sick leave credits (up to 24 months). 

  • To qualify for an unreduced pension, you generally need to meet the "85 factor" (age + years of service = 85), with 30 years of credited service for the 60% pension.

Scenario 2 - Approaching Retirement

• • Your board-approved retirement date is within the next 110 working days.

Scenario 3 - Reaching Age 65

• • You have reached the end of the month in which you turned 65, or you will reach the end of the month in which you will turn 65, within the later of the next 110 working days or expiration of sick leave credits (up to 24 months).

Important Considerations

• Coverage Until Retirement: You are not required to cancel your LTD coverage simply because you've notified your board of your retirement. You remain eligible for coverage until your retirement date and can file a claim if you become disabled before then. If approved, benefits are payable until recovery, eligibility for a 60% unreduced pension, or the end of the month following your 65th birthday (provided you aren't receiving Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan benefits).

• Think Carefully Before Cancelling: Terminating coverage in Scenario 2 before retirement means you will not be eligible for LTD if you become disabled before retirement.

• No Retroactive Cancellations: Coverage cannot be cancelled retroactively.

How to Terminate Coverage

If you wish to terminate your LTD coverage, complete an "Application for Long Term Disability (LTD) Coverage Termination" and submit it to your local OECTA unit office at least two months prior to your desired cancellation date, along with the required supporting documentation.

Questions?

Contact your local OECTA unit office, not your school board, with any questions. The LTD benefits plan is sponsored by OECTA Provincial and administered by the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP).