PRESIDENT'S JOURNAL

Are We or Aren’t We…?

CPCO is working diligently on your behalf to influence the government to ensure that principals and vice-principals in Ontario are excluded from Ontario’s Public Sector Compensation Restraint Act. What we do know is that for questions regarding who is included in the proposed legislation, a “Public Sector Compensation Restraint Board” will be set up to provide clarity for employers. However, we have not to this point been able to ascertain when this board will be operating.

According to the 2010 Ontario Budget FAQ’s, “employees who are part of a union or who bargain compensation collectively would see their current agreements honoured”. www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2010/faq.html

It is the position of CPCO that local principal/vice-principal associations bargain for their members and should be exempt from a salary freeze. PPM 152 provides further evidence that our terms and conditions are “negotiated”.

Should the salary freeze apply to principals/vice-principals, several school boards across Ontario would be faced with the reality of seeing their administrators receive less financial compensation than the teachers they supervise. As well, this scenario could ignite retirements for those members who are currently eligible for retirement but were hoping to secure their “best 5” years for pension purposes. This scenario clearly poses a challenge to boards’ succession plans and the Ontario Leadership Strategy.

Yesterday, a joint letter was sent to Minister of Education, Leona Dombrowsky by the presidents of CPCO, OPC and ADFO on behalf of Ontario’s 7500 school principals and vice-principals. CPCO members who are local association leaders are asked to broach this subject with senior administration in their boards to make sure that they are aware of the concerns as listed in the Minister’s letter and to discuss other local issues that might arise as a result of the Restraint Act.

It is CPCO’s current understanding that the proposed legislation does allow for movement on salary grids.

I would like to extend a sincere thank you for the quick responses from District Reps in providing me with local teacher salary information. CPCO eagerly awaits clarification from the Ministry and will certainly keep its members informed of further developments as they arise.

 

Keeping It In Perspective…

May the glory
and the promise
of this joyous Easter time
bring peace
and happiness to you and your loved ones.

On behalf of the staff at CPCO, I wish you a holy and joyous Easter!

Upcoming Events

March 31 - Meeting with OCSOA president and executive director
April 5 - Kenora association visit
April 6 - Northwest (in Dryden) association visit

If you would like to comment or provide feedback on the President’s Journal, please contact Paul Lacalamita at president@cpco.on.ca.