Candidates for 2010-2011

President

TARA EHRCKE: 

Top on teachers’ minds is the need to improve working conditions – adequate preparation time, smaller class sizes, manageable class composition. Just as important are local improvements that are long overdue – discretionary days, time for classroom moves, and a halt to the administration of ever more standardized tests, to name a few.

The GVTA has worked to improve our hiring/transfer processes, to attain middle school prep time provisions, and to ensure compliance with our collective agreement. These local initiatives have demonstrated that we can make improvements through local negotiations with our own school Board. The opportunity to bargain locally this round will be critical for our ongoing success.

Also key has been the engagement of members – through surveys, meetings, new teacher workshops and school visits. If elected, I look forward to continuing to enhance member participation, to improving our collective agreement provisions, and to ensuring that our organization promotes a sustainable, quality public education system for all children.

Previous experience:

GVTA: Contract Chair (3 years), Secretary/Treasurer (1 year), Social Justice Chair (1 year), Staff Rep (Spectrum, 4 years)

BCTF: AGM Delegate (5 years), Professional Issues Advisory Committee (3 years)

CUPE (Local 4163): 1st VP (1 year), Treasurer (2 years)

1st Vice President

BENULA GIASSON:

Our history as a union with autonomous locals presents a clear lesson on the importance of full-scope collective bargaining rights at the local level.

In March 1994, the NDP Provincial Government imposed provincial bargaining on teachers and created BCPSEA as the agent for school boards. All matters with a cost are to be negotiated provincially. It’s the structure we are still stuck with today. Provincial bargaining has failed to address issues of class size and composition. We want local control of our issues, our working conditions and our learning conditions.

What will it take, collectively, for us to reclaim what we have lost?

As your 1st Vice President, I will continue to work to return to full and free local collective bargaining including the right to negotiate all terms and conditions of employment at the local level

Teaching Experience:

This district: - Lansdowne Middle School (since 2004)

Other: Francophone Education Authority - Ecole Victor-Brodeur (1990-2004)

Relevant Experience:

GVTA LR 2007-2010

BCTF French Advisory Committee 2009-2010

BCTF Parent Workshop Facilitator 2008-2010

BCTF AGM delegate 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

GVTA Staff Rep/Pro-D Rep (Lansdowne Middle School) 2004-2007

ADEF Local #93, Social Justice Committee chair, 1998-2003

2nd Vice President

Secretary Treasurer

Contract Chair

BRUCE THOMAS:

It has been a privilege to work on behalf of teaching colleagues in the role of Acting President over the past year, and as 2nd Vice President/Health and Safety Rep for the past two years.  Advocating on behalf of courageous teachers standing by their convictions has been challenging and rewarding.

We have seen improvements in the last several years in post and fill processes, middle school language, professional development and many other areas.  These gains have arisen from defending our Collective Agreement through the grievance process, bringing the District to the table to discuss solutions that make sense to both parties.

With these important gains, much more remains to be addressed.  This process has already begun by surveying the membership with a view to negotiate matters important to Victoria teachers.  The position of Contract Chair will play a vital role in the upcoming year as we seek to advance to our working conditions and the learning environments of our students.  I would appreciate your support in pursuing these improvements on behalf of our colleagues.

Other Experience:

4 yrs - Contract Committee

2 yrs - Executive Committee

2 yrs - BCTF AGM Delegate

2 yrs - Staff Rep, Spectrum; 4 yrs, Cedar Hill

Professional Development Chair

KAREN WHYTE:

I have been privileged to serve as the 2009/10 GVTA Professional Development Chair, and thank the Committee that has served with me.

With GVSD/GVTA funding based on amounts substantiated twenty years ago, I understand the importance of negotiating higher Professional Development funding.  Having been elected to the October Bargaining Conference as a member of the BCTF Committee for Action on Social Justice, I look forward to bargaining for both Professional Development and Social Justice issues.

I will provide the Professional Development SURT early in the school year, in order to clarify the application process and other pertinent professional development information.  I will also endeavour to provide a wide range of workshops at the February Tapestry Conference.

Related Experience:

GVTA Professional Development Chair, 2008/09 & 2009/10

Member of the BCTF Committee for Action on Social Justice

Peace & Global Education Action Group, 2009/10

Appointed as a Facilitator for three BCTF Workshops, June 2009

AGM Delegate, March 2009 & 2010

Local Elections Training Participant, January 2009

BCTF Summer Conference Delegate, August 2008 & 2009

Teaching Certificate completed in May 2000.

Social Justice Chair

TTOC/New Teacher Chair

LESLIE DONALDSON: 

I would like to be considered for TTOC/New Teacher Chair. I have been subbing in the district since December of 2006. I have my first part-time temporary contract at George Jay this year, teaching Information Technology. I am interested in joining the committee because I would like to help give a voice to the concerning issues facing TTOCs and New Teachers in our district.

Local Representatives (3)

DARREN COMPANION:

I am asking for your support as Local Representative for the GVTA. My past four years as Member-at-Large have proven to be an excellent opportunity to learn of our local’s role within the BCTF and in how your Executive Committee works towards supporting the needs and concerns of our teachers. My recent participation at this year’s BCTF AGM also filled me with a sense of community and optimism for our union's future. I remain committed to defending public education, and will continue to work collaboratively with next year's Executive in helping to establish a local bargaining model for our next round of contract negotiations.

Teaching Experience:

Greater Victoria: 13 years

Schools: Oaklands, École Quadra.

Related Experience:

GVTA Member-at-Large (2006-Present)

BCTF Federation Leadership Institute (2010)

GVTA Rep. to the District Health & Safety Committee (2009/10)

Delegate to BCTF AGM (2009, 2010)

Co-chair of the Local Staff Rep. Assembly (2007/08)

Delegate at BCTF Zone Meetings as Health & Safety, TTOC, and Social Justice Representative (2006/10)

Social Justice Committee (2005/06; 2008/10)

President of the GVTA Teacher-on-Call Association (1999/2000)

SUZANNE MACDONALD:

My union exposure began the night I was born: my father went to a union meeting. Having spent my professional life in union and non-union environments, I know first hand the value of the support of the collective. I have taught in both large and small districts and have a background in governmental administration. These life experiences provide me with a broad perspective on issues that face the membership.  It is important to me that the union listen to the members and bring forward the issues that are of importance to the membership. Over the last few years, I have seen a significant and genuine effort on the part of our union executive to listen to the membership, solicit input, and respond to the members in Victoria. I hope I may count on your vote for me as your Local Representative. 

GVTA:

3 yrs - Working and Learning Conditions Committee

2 yrs - Middle School Committee

Staff Rep, Cedar Hill

BCTF:

2 yrs at the AGM (2009 & 2010)

Teaching Experience:

Ten yrs - SD61

Learning Support Teacher/ESL Teacher at Cedar Hill

Also taught in northern BC, Lower Mainland and Mid-Island.

VIVA MOODLEY:

Thank you for the confidence in allowing me to serve as a Member at Large. As an appointee to the BCTF Ad Hoc Committee on Bargaining Structures, I participated in creating a structure that would bring more negotiating items to our local table. I wish to continue my participation by running for the position of Local Representative (LR) to the BCTF Representative Assembly where I can assure its proper implementation. I have been LR. for three years.

I serve on our local Bargaining Team as well as on the Contract Committee, Ad Hoc Committee on Elections. I have served in many positions on the Executive positions over the last 23 years.

As well I serve on the Working and Learning Conditions/Bargaining Committee of the BCTF, as the Judicial Council Chairperson and a Staff Union Representative Trainer for the BCTF

I will encourage greater involvement of our members in our Union. One way is to ensure fairness and due process for all members.

PATRICK SCHRECK:

As BCTF Local Representative (LR) I will continue to give special attention to two key issues.  

Restoration of local bargaining. Provincial bargaining has not been good for teachers in Victoria or throughout the province.  However, Victoria Teachers have demonstrated that local actions, campaigns, and negotiations engage our members, put issues relevant to Victoria teachers on the table, and force the employer to that table.  At the BCTF level I helped build a caucus to push for local bargaining.  As a result we now have a BCTF bargaining strategy to bring every possible local issue to local level.  As we enter 2011 bargaining, I will work as LR and with the local-bargaining caucus to ensure that BCTF resources are deployed to train and prepare locals to win real improvements for teachers, teaching, and public education.

Increased prep time for all teachers. Increased prep time must be a key 2011 bargaining initiative at the provincial level. With increased class sizes, more complex class compositions, and greater needs of our students, the workload for teachers is untenabl. In other jurisdictions in Canada, teachers have up to twice the prep time as we do in BC. Teachers in BC should have no less.

DEBRA SWAIN:

Teachers in Victoria and around BC will be deciding on our bargaining objectives next year.  As chair of the GVTA Local Staff Rep Assembly, I heard teachers concerns including lack of support for students with special needs, health and safety issue, lack of preparation time, increased demands for assessment and lack of resources to meet the needs of students.  As a Learning support and grade 4/5 teacher I know the demands teachers face.  I carried this knowledge with me as your Local Rep this year when I spoke on behalf of GVTA members at the BCTF Rep Assemblies and AGM. 

I believe that teachers’ professional autonomy is vital to our working and learning conditions.  When I decide how to deliver the curriculum to my students, I am acting as a professional.   I will continue to work at the local and provincial level to protect and enhance teachers’ professional rights.

Related Experience:

GVTA Executive – Local Rep 2009-10, Secretary Treasurer 2007-09, Local President 2005-07, 1st VP 1999-2005, LR 1998-99 & 1995-97, Member-at-Large 1993-95

GVTA Pro-D, Contract, Social Justice Committees

BCTF AGM -16 years

Staff Rep – 10 years

BCTF Committees – Teacher Newsmagazine 6 yrs, PQT and Teacher Inquiry 3 yr term

Members-at-Large (3) 

SHELBY ROGERS:

As a new teacher to the Greater Victoria district, I’d greatly appreciate your consideration for a Member-at-Large position in the GVTA Executive.  I’d like to become involved in my teacher’s association to learn more about local issues and increase awareness among new teachers, and I plan on participating in various aspects of GVTA action.  I look forward to meeting other members and collaborating with my colleagues. Thank you.

Committees

Contract Committee

DARREN COMPANION (see CV above)

Professional Development Committee

Social Justice Committee

TTOC/New Teacher Committee

JOCELYN BURRIDGE:

I would like to be considered for the TTOC/New Teacher Committee. This is my first year subbing in the district after graduating from the University of Victoria last June.  I feel that it is important as a TOC to know my rights and have a say about my future career.  being a TOC, I see first hand the issues new teachers face and would like to take part in addressing them.

During the last year of my degree, I was the education association student body president.  I really enjoyed organizing events and being a link between the students and faculty.  I feel that being on this committee would provide me with the opportunity to be a voice for TOCs and New Teachers as we work together to better our future.