Apply now for Region 3 Educational – Sept 27-28

This is the call-out package for the Region 3 Educational to be held on September 27 & 28, 2025, at the Fern Resort Ltd. – 4432 Fern Resort Road, Ramara, ON L3V 0Z1, 1-800-567- 3376.

1. Application for Educational
2. Advance Request Form
3. Human Rights Accommodation Request
4. Educational Information Sheet
5. Descriptions of courses being offered
6. Statement of Respect/Scent/Nut-Free

Please note: You will receive a confirmation letter if selected. At that time, you will also receive the time-off request form, childcare request form, human rights accommodation form, and Room Request form, for completion.

For your application to be considered, it must be sent to the email [email protected] before

Friday August 1, 2025 by 4:30pm. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

In solidarity,

Region 3 Education Committee

Course Descriptions for September 27 & 28, 2025

Courses times: Saturday, September 27^th, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. & Sunday, September 28^th 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Union Skills for Workplace Investigations

Have you ever been called, at the last minute, to the employer’s office to “represent” a member who is being accused of serious wrong-doings? Have you wondered what to do and how best to represent this person, particularly if you suspect that they may have broken a rule or two?

This hands-on course takes you step by step through a workplace investigations process. It starts with the first contact with the member, through to the response to the investigation findings, with lots of practice in between. Through case studies and a variety of active exercises you’ll practice interviewing the member, anticipating the investigator’s questions, preparing the member for meeting the investigator, taking good notes at the meeting, and working with the member to respond to the findings. The Resource Toolkit has additional information about investigations in different sectors, use of surveillance, and other issues.

Workplace Surveillance: Know Your Rights

Develop an understanding of workers’ rights regarding workplace surveillance so that you can be informed, strategic and proactive in a technologically changing workplace. Through shared experiences, hands-on mapping of your workplace surveillance systems, insights into the future of work, and an exploration of case studies, you will return to your local with tools, tips, best practices, sample contract language, and more.

Taking Action on Workplace Stress

Is your work stressing you out? If so, you’re not alone. In Canada, one in four workers report feeling highly stressed at work. Factors such as excessive demands, lack of control, precarious work, inadequate resources and support, and workplace bullying and harassment can all take their toll on the well-being of workers.

Participants will be able to identify workplace factors that negatively affect workers’ health and wellbeing and gain familiarity with terminology associated with workplace stress. The course will help to develop strategies for influencing change in the workplace as well as examine ways to work with your Union to address and resolve workplace stress issues.

Duty to Accommodate 2: Making Accommodation Work

Does your employer balk at providing proper accommodations? Has your employer challenged the medical information the member has provided? Is the employer asking members for independent medical exams? Do you hear grumblings from co-workers about the number of accommodations in the workplace?

Building on the skills and information in the first course, “Duty to Accommodate: A tool for inclusive workplaces”, Making Accommodation Work: Duty to Accommodate 2 examines the challenges of supporting a worker in need of an accommodation. This course investigates strategies and skills for gathering information, challenging employer tactics used to prevent accommodations, developing a fair accommodation plan, and communicating with co-workers to build more workplace solidarity.

While the course focuses mainly on the practical aspects of accommodation due to disability, many of the issues such as Collective Agreement language, attendance management programs, and co-worker resentment apply to accommodation based on sex and family status as well.

Note: Due to the volume of information about Duty to Accommodate, it is strongly advised that participants take “Duty to Accommodate: A Tool for Inclusive Workplaces” before Duty to Accommodate 2.

Information Sheet

Application

• Application forms must be signed by the Local President or Designate, and received by the Region 3 email address [email protected] no later than Friday August 1, 2025 by 4:30pm. Application forms & accompanying documents must be fully completed and received on time to be

Cancellations

• A member cancelling participation must notify their Local President and [email protected] as soon as Members are responsible for cancelling hotel reservations and any associated cost for late cancellations.

No Call/No Show

• Members who do not cancel their participation with the Regional Office within forty-eight (48) hours of the event start date will not be eligible to attend the next Extenuating circumstances will be considered.

Child care/Elder/Dependant Care

• Members will be reimbursed for family care (childcare/ elder care/dependent care) at a rate of$15.00 an hour to a maximum of $220.00 in a 24-hour period.
• Childcare claims will be honoured for children up to and including age 16, for whom the member is a guardian.
• Care may be provided by friends/family, professional or commercial services, or any other arrangement satisfactory to the member making the Claims may be verified and must be signed by the service provider. A spouse is excluded from the list of eligible care providers.
• Members who have responsibility for elderly/dependant persons living with them as part of their family may claim for their care.
• Members will be reimbursed for family/attendant care at $15.00 an hour, to a maximum of $220.00 in a 24 hour period.
• This policy covers the expenses for persons over the age of 16, permanently residing with, and under the care of a member, who are differently-abled and/or A spouse is excluded from the list of eligible care providers.
• If childcare is requested through OPSEU/SEFPO at the Educational, all paperwork must be completed and submitted, and the child must be in attendance with the program. If the child is not in attendance, you will be responsible for the full cost of their accommodation and the cost of meals at the Resort.

Expense Claims

The Member Portal (opseu.org//members-login) is the quickest way to have your expenses processed. Please see the E-Claim tutorial in your Members Profile under the Documents menu.

If you choose to use a paper expense claim – only one event is allowed on each form and can be submitted to [email protected]. Multiple events on one form will be returned to the member for correction.

Accommodation

A block of rooms has been reserved at Fern Resort Ltd. and is based on OPSEU/SEFPO policy of single accommodations.

• Once acceptance to the educational is confirmed, Members are responsible for booking their own accommodations directly with Fern Resort no later than September 12, 2025. Bookings after this date are subject to availability and regular hotel room rates will apply. To book your room at Fern Resort Ltd., please complete the Reservation Request Form provided in your acceptance package and email it to [email protected]. *NEW* – No credit card is required to secure your room for those 60km or over unless you are bringing a Companion/Spouse or children (not registered in OPSEU Childcare), or you register for Friday Dinner.
• Hotel Accommodations are not approved for members living within 60 Kilometers of the hotel location. If you live within 60km, please book & pay using your own credit card. Room keys will not be provided to those within 60km unless a credit card is provided
• The Fern has a double occupancy rate of $260.01 per person, per night (not to be confused with the companion rate). Should you choose to share a room with another member, and you live within 60km of the venue, you are responsible for booking and payment of your
• OPSEU/SEFPO members are responsible for notifying the hotel directly of any special accommodations or dietary restrictions required by guests or children of the
• Additional meal rates will be charged in advance of Upon check-in, participants and paid guests will be provided with a bracelet, allowing them to eat with the group.
• No Pet Policy: If you require a Service Dog to attend, please notify Scott Collins at [email protected] and provide certification that the dog is trained to do a specific task, as per the AODA.
• Credit card must be provided upon check-in for incidental pre-approval of $100.00/day.
• Check-in after 4 m. on Friday, check-out by 11:00am on Sunday.
• If members are unable to attend, they are responsible for cancelling their

Meals that are included in the room rates will not be allowable expenses even if you do not eat at the resort (Saturday Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, and Sunday Breakfast). Fern Resort Ltd. will be providing Dinner on Friday for $48. This meal is not included in the room rate; however, members will be reimbursed $39 in accordance with the OPSEU/SEFPO dinner rate. To make a reservation for dinner on Friday, members must inform Fern Resort and provide a credit card at the time of room booking.

Additional Guests – please notify the hotel directly to let them know you are bringing additional guests so we can make the appropriate meal arrangements. As per Fern Resort Ltd., children are free Friday night. Please note that accommodations and meals for additional guests will not be reimbursed. The All- inclusive Rates Per Person for Friday, as per the Fern Resort Ltd are as follows: Single occupancy:

$313.35, Double occupancy $260.01 and Companion Rate for Friday is $206.68 per person. These rates include Friday night accommodations, including Breakfast on Saturday served in the Heritage Dinning, coffee, tea, juice and milk at breakfast, parking, WIFI and use of multiple sports and recreation amenities.

Friday dinner can be added with reservations at the time of booking, credit card required. $48 per adult, $25 per child aged 1-12 plus 18% Event Services Fee and HST per person. The Companion Rate is for an adult guest staying at Fern Resort Ltd. but not attending the meetings.

Saturday Night rates include the meals listed above. Single occupancy is $418.69, Double occupancy is

$365.35, Companion/Spouse occupancy is $312.02, Children from 1-3 are $92.00, Children from 4-12 are $182.68, and Children from 13-17 are $274.68.

Children must be registered and attend the on-site childcare to have their accommodations and meals reimbursed (not applicable if Companion/Spouse is in attendance but NOT registered for a course)

Time-Off/Lost Wages

Lost wages will be reimbursed for shift workers only in accordance with current OPSEU/SEFPO policy. Documentation must be submitted with your claim

Own time is not paid for a weekend education.

Time off arrangements – Time-Off Request forms will be provided for completion with the confirmation letter if selected.

Statement of Respect

Harassment or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated at OPSEU functions.

Whenever OPSEU members gather, we welcome all peoples of the world. We will not accept any unwelcoming words, actions or behaviours against our union members. We accord respect to all persons, regardless of age, creed, political affiliation and racialization including and not limited to People of African descent, Black, Caribbean, South Asian, Asian, women, men, First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, members of ethno-racial groups, people with disabilities, gays, lesbians, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, and gender diverse persons, Francophones and all persons whose first language is not English. In our diversity we will build solidarity as union members.

If you believe that you are being harassed or discriminated against, contact the Facilitator or Instructor for immediate assistance.

Allergy Alert

Scent, Peanuts and Nut-Free Policy

Workers are becoming sensitized to chemicals, scented products and certain foods such as peanuts, peanut butter, pecans, walnuts, many chocolate bars and energy/nutrition bars.

For many individuals, attending conferences, meetings etc. and being exposed to perfumes, other strong scents and certain foods can pose serious health risks such as asthma attacks, respiratory problems and/or migraine headaches.

In the interest of the health and safety of the sisters and brothers whose health may suffer from any of these exposures, we ask that you refrain from wearing or using scented products, peanut and nut products at all OPSEU/SEFPO events and OPSEU/SEFPO locations.

Authorized by the OPSEU Executive Board / Avis autorisé par le Conseil exécutif du SEFPO

Form/Formulaire 501