Region 3 Weekend Educational, Feb 1 and 2, 2025

Printable PDF and application form

• Region 3 Weekend Educational
• February 1 and 2, 2025
• Deadline: Please complete this form and email it to [email protected] by 4:30 pm, Friday, Dec 6.

The Region 3 Educational to be held on February 1 & 2, 2025 at the Fern Resort Ltd. – 4432 Fern Resort Road, Ramara, ON L3V 0Z1. (705-325-2256)Please note: You will receive a confirmation letter if selected. At that time, you will also receive the time-off request form and childcare request form for completion.For your application to be considered, it must be sent to the email [email protected] by Friday December 6, 2024, by 4:30pm. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.Human rights accommodation request form

Course information

Courses times:

• Saturday, February 1, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Sunday, February 2,  9 a.m. – noon.

Advancing Union Issues through Labour Management Committees

Often union-side members become cynical about labour management committee work because the employer refuses to meet or follow through on action. This course aims to strengthen the skills of labour management committees to solve workplace problems and build the union, whether management is cooperating or not.A variety of activities are used to clarify the union-building potential of LMC’s, to assess the effectiveness of a labour management committee, and to strengthen skills to move a workplace complaint to resolution at the LMC. Attention is paid to a) arguing an issue; b) addressing management tactics; c) using the LMC to communicate with members; d) strategies to mobilize members to back LMC work; e) connecting LMC work to bargaining and mobilizing work in the Local. Participants should bring their Collective Agreements to the course.

Duty to Accommodate 1 – A Tool for Inclusive Workplaces

Provincial legislation and existing case law require employers and unions to provide accommodation short of undue hardship. This interactive course examines the roles and responsibilities of the employer, the union and the member in accommodating members with disabilities and all other protected groups under the Ontario Human Rights Code. It builds activists’ skills to support members requiring accommodation, and to deal with employer resistance to accommodation in the workplace.

The Indigenous Journey: Walking Together: Part One

Would you like to learn more about Indigenous peoples? Do you know that the First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples have differences in their traditions, beliefs, communities and cultural identities as well as some commonalities?Through activities, inspired by the teachings and traditions of Indigenous peoples, we will take you through an overview of the lives of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples as well as allow you an opportunity to share in some of their stories.You will take a journey of examining both historical and current relationships between Indigenous people and governments within Canada and the world today. If you would like to share in the rich history of Indigenous peoples and spend time understanding why being an ally is important, this course will offer that opportunity.

Basic Grievance Handling for Union Building

This course is designed to examine the grievance process from a workplace organizing perspective. Grievances are opportunities to build the union. This hands-on course helps members analyze situations to decide whether a grievance is the best approach.Participants will learn about different types of grievances and the remedies available through the grievance/arbitration process. They will develop technical skills in writing, processing grievances and practice communication to assess whether a member’s rights have been violated. Participants should bring their Collective Agreements to the course.

Event information

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 December 6, 2024 by 4:30pm. Application forms & accompanying documents must be fully completed and received on time to be considered.

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 be assessed a fifty-dollar ($50) penalty and 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 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 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.

Hotel

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 January 15, 2025. Bookings after this date are subject to availability and regular hotel room rates will apply. To book your room at Fern Resort Ltd. call (705) 325-2256. (At the time of reservation there will be a deposit required of $150 per person.)
• If members are unable to attend, they are responsible for cancelling their
• Hotel Accommodations are not approved for members living within 60 Kilometers of the hotel location.

Meals that are included in the room rates will not be allowable expenses even if you do not eat at the resort. Fern Resort Ltd. will be providing Dinner on Friday (must be added with reservations at the time of booking), Saturday Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch Buffet) & Dinner, and Sunday Breakfast (Buffet breakfast).Additional Guests – please notify the hotel directly to let them know you are bringing additional guests so we can make the appropriate meal arrangements. Please note that accommodations and meals for additional guests will not be reimbursed. (Friday Night Only children are free as per the Fern Resort Ltd.) 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. $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.Additional meal rates will be charged in advance of arrival. Upon check-in, participants and paid guests will be provided with a bracelet, allowing them to eat with the group.

• Please note: As per the Fern Resort Ltd – No Pets allowed, only Service Dogs. *

OPSEU/SEFPO members are responsible for notifying the hotel directly of any special accommodations or dietary restrictions required by guests or children of the member.Check-in time: after 4 p.m. on FridayCheckout time: by 11:00am on Sunday.

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.

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.