1. Branch President’s Role
District 16
Branch President Workshop

3. Workplace Representative Manual
Divided into 7 sections
I – The Workplace Representative
II – Grievances
III – Legal Considerations
IV – OSSTF Services
V – French Language Services
VI – Common Questions
VII – Other Information

4. Workplace Representative Manual
I – The Workplace Representative
A – Duties of a workplace representative
B – Representing a member in crisis
C – Checklist –when a member may be charged with an offence
D – Working with the principal
E – School council representative
F – Running a branch meeting

5. Workplace Representative Manual
A – Duties of a workplace representative

6. A - Duties of a workplace rep
The OSSTF representative is important
front-line representative for members
source of advice and leadership
link to the union structure
what you do affects their opinion of the union
the more you help, the better members feel about the union

7. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What makes a good representative?
fair, objective and professional
friendly and easy to talk to
quick to supply info to members
enthusiastic about OSSTF
help educate what OSSTF does for members

8. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What makes a good representative?
enjoy helping others
you don’t have to have all answers
care about the interests of others
give accurate advise
call the office if unsure

9. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What should you know?
Know your collective agreement
a primary purpose of the union
sets out the conditions for work
employer may break agreement
responsible to advise district
contract language interpretation
seek advise for clarification

10. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What should you know?
Know your school
understand issues of other members
meet with the branch executive
enable members to come to you
welcome communication

11. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What should you know?
Know your grievance process
a primary part of the contract
enables contract maintenance
formal step to be followed
seek advise from district office
a district process
decision to proceed
steps to arbitration

12. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What should you know?
Know the issues
follow the issues in the media
understand issues of the district
attend district meetings
attend conferences and workshops
review communications from OSSTF
read Signal, Update and Forum
familiarize yourself with website content

13. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What should you do?
Speak for your co-workers
you are official spokesperson
responsible to carry out federation policy
develop a relationship with administration
discuss issues with administration

14. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What should you do?
Organize your workplace
you need the support of teachers
ensure that members know the benefits of OSSTF
meet new teachers
explain the role of OSSTF
ensure new members have info and documents they need
encourage them to come to you

15. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What should you do?
Keep you members informed
communicate information
activities
initiatives
meetings
policies
you are their link to the OSSTF
keep that bulletin board is up to date

16. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What should you do?
Keep you members informed
many members will never attend a meeting
advertise federation activities
listen to members ideas
organize discussion when required

17. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What should you do?
Get members out to OSSTF activities
members education is key
participation increases knowledge
members who don’t know what the union does often become vocally critical of the union
get assistance from district

18. A - Duties of a workplace rep
What should you do?
Assist members with personal issues
issues may be non teaching
be a sounding board for concerns
personal issues often affect work
offer support options such as
EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
benefits
leaves
benevolence

19. Workplace Representative Manual
B – Representing a member in crisis

20. B- Representing a member in crisis
Meet privately with the member
before meeting with management talk to the member privately
important to keep cool
help defuse the situation
members often want to explain or fight back, not a good idea
advise the member to listen and say nothing

21. B- Representing a member in crisis
Get advise
before any meeting get advise
contact the district office
district may call the province office
don’t take on a discipline matter yourself

22. B- Representing a member in crisis
Act as a witness
attend meetings
evidence of who said what may be required later
make notes
keep notes confidential
meeting should be formal
initial meetings are for allegations only

23. B- Representing a member in crisis
Withdraw and find further advise
after meeting contact the district and get specific advise on what to do next

24. B- Representing a member in crisis
Keep members’ problems confidential
to protect all members confidentiality is essential
don’t ask the members for their story as this is best left for legal council

25. Workplace Representative Manual
C – Checklist – when a member may be charged with an offence
It is important to protect the rights of the member

26. C - Checklist – when a member may be charged with an offence
advise not to answer questions without council
cancel any meeting that becomes confrontational
advise the member not to discuss the issue with anyone
advise not to talk to anyone involved
Contact office to arrange council
Advise the member to make accurate notes of the events for their own use

27. Workplace Representative Manual
D – Dealing with the office
Develop a good working relationship
meet prior to staff meetings
discuss potential problems and work co-operatively to solve issues and avoid conflicts
Most issues pertain to the union
staffing
organization
workload

28. Workplace Representative Manual
E – School council representative
elected by the members of the staff
represents the interests of the OSSTF on the council
bring issues of the union to the school council for consideration or action

29. Workplace Representative Manual
F – Running a branch meeting
have a clear agenda
get minutes out quickly
have a focus to the meeting
use rules of order to expedite the meeting