Sunday, March 31, 2019

Organized

Less than a month ago I was writing here about my conversation with Paul Chislett about worker rights and organizing, and here I am to relate some news I just got that a federally funded service provider organization (SPO) in Windsor just voted to unionize. There is, of course, no connection between my blog post and the timing of that. The person who started the ball rolling began calling around to various unions back in October of last year, I learned earlier this week. The vote was narrow, but the employees at Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women are now in the Unifor fold. Congratulations to those across all departments, not just language skills, who fought for that. With Unemployed Help Centre, that makes two union SPOs that I am aware of; UHC is with CUPE.


I don't have much else to say on that topic now, so I'll finish out this blog post with bits of news on other topics.

My Twitter feed is abuzz with colleagues' preparations to attend BC TEAL's annual conference. Yuliya has been presenting again, this time edging into the subject of student feedback on PBLA. I'll update you on that when I can, or you can follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/YuliyaESL.

After using my own resources The Library and accompanying activity pack in my literacy classroom for a week, I ended up publishing a longer version of the activity pack with more matching words to pictures, more picture flashcards so that every text flashcard has an image to go with it, as well as two new dialogues for role plays. The librarian's role will have to be played by the teacher or a T.A. The following week, I published a resource that is a facsimile of my local library's self-check machine screens. I stuck the pages (screens) into the cello sleeves of my old classroom bank machine made from a cardboard box. That worked out great; everyone seemed excited to learn how to check out their own materials without going to the circulation desk. Whether that translates to an actual ability to do so during our field trip this Wednesday is yet to be seen! The bonus extension resource is on the website for free download.


That's it for me for this week. I'm enjoying the rest of my visit to Shaker Heights, Ohio today where the grand mature trees that shade the boulevards are beautifully blanketed in snow this afternoon.

How's life in your neck of the woods?
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7 comments:

  1. Anonymous4/02/2019 8:24 PM

    Good on the Windsor Women! I can tell you that organizing and forming a union is not as hard as it might seem. There is help available from local unions. Reach out and they can guide you through the process. There are strong legal protections in place. We have higher wages and a voice at our workplace now that we have a union. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4/03/2019 5:58 AM

      Congratulations! I have a question. You mention higher wages now that you are a union affiliate. How did this happen so quickly?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4/11/2019 9:41 PM

      Well, it actually happened even before we voted to unionize when the employer thought giving us a raise would help change our minds about unionizing. It didn't. Now we have wage increases built into our contract. They find ways. There are many unionized LINC workplaces. Some LINC instructors make as little as $23 an hour, while others make $74. And those are only the ones that I know of. IRCC seems to be respectful of unionized workplaces. That's my impression anyway.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous4/11/2019 9:45 PM

      By the way, the union has rights to look at the "books" to find potential sources for wage increases. Employers can not legally refuse access. If there's any kind of room in the budget, the union will find it.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous4/11/2019 9:45 PM

      By the way, the union has rights to look at the "books" to find potential sources for wage increases. Employers can not legally refuse access. If there's any kind of room in the budget, the union will find it.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous4/12/2019 3:54 AM

    Where do LINC instructors make $74 an hour? I'd love to connect our union with them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous4/12/2019 7:24 AM

    Most colleges have those kind of well-earned wages.

    ReplyDelete

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