Issues
At the Provincial Executive table Earl has practiced his belief that strong, responsible leadership involves advocating a position, while respectfully considering and remaining open to other points of view.
Earl:
* listens to the ideas of others and makes decisions as a member of the Provincial Executive team
* works to synthesize ideas in order to arrive at a consensus position so that we can move forward together, strong and united
* maintains respectful and positive working relationships with members of the Provincial Executive team
* maintains a standard of excellence and due diligence as he serves in the roles of Treasurer and member of the Provincial Executive team
Financial Management
Earl's experience in financial management as provincial Treasurer and at the Bargaining Unit and District level have equipped him to continue providing effective oversight of our finances. Earl's focus on long-term financial planning, as evidenced in developing Five Year Projections for AMPA, will help improve our collective awareness of our union's resources.
Earl:
* provides responsible financial management and ensures accountability and transparency in our union's financial affairs
* uses long-term financial planning to ensure the overall financial health of OSSTF
* communicates effectively, presenting clear financial reports
* ensures that all programs and activities are administered efficiently
* continues to use a straightforward and transparent process for rebating money
* critically reviews the District Funding Masters, both the structure and process, and consults to ensure that funding masters are meeting local needs and priorities
* works with spending authorities to refine cost-tracking and spending control measures
* ensures that the Finance Committee has the information it needs to make informed decisions
* supports local Treasurers and leaders with finance workshops and other training opportunities
* works to maintain OSSTF/FEESO's position as the strongest, most progressive education union with the lowest fees and the best member service
Supporting Strong Locals
Support for local leaders and local activism is fundamental to OSSTF/FEESO's continued growth as a strong, progressive education workers' union.
Earl:
* ensures that sufficient resources are allocated to continue to develop strong local leadership and member services
* provides for equitable access to union organized training opportunities for local leaders
* ensures sufficient resources to deliver quality member service and protection
* listens to and consults with local leaders and members and responds to members promptly
* is readily available to assist District Treasurers and Bargaining Unit leaders
Member Service
Earl believes that maintaining our strength as a union rests on making resources available to:
* engage in the development and implementation of strategic political action at the local and provincial level
* provide meaningful professional development for local leaders and members
* provide strong protective services
* continue the fight for pay equity and job security
* bargain good collective agreements for our members
Organizing for Strength
OSSTF/FEESO has grown stronger through our diverse membership. Representing members who work in early childhood education through to university and in the French, Catholic, and English systems allows OSSTF to speak with greater authority than ever on how to protect and improve our public education system.
Earl:
* supports our union's emphasis on organizing
* advocates that decisions about organizing are guided by our core mandate to protect and strengthen public education and by a determined commitment to maintain our position as the strongest, most progressive education union in Ontario
* works with the Provincial Executive team to support a strategic, well-planned approach to organizing
Collective Bargaining and Political Action
We must continue to review the strategy adopted in the last major round of bargaining and set priorities and develop plans as we look toward future bargaining, while continuing to assist those locals who are currently engaged in bargaining. There is a direct relationship between our success in bargaining and our engagement in political action. As a local Vice President responsible for collective bargaining and political action in District 12, Earl brought to the Executive team extensive experience from both these pillars of union strength.
Earl:
* supports strategic political action aimed at mitigating the impact of declining enrollment on public education and OSSTF
* uses his background in political lobbying and organizing to ensure that the Provincial Government gets the
message that in these uncertain economic times, it is more important than ever to invest in public education
* advocates for continued strategic political action to create a climate for successful collective bargaining
* supports a strategic approach to election planning that will involve action at the local and provincial levels, plus local and provincial lobbying
* supports the participation of local leaders in the decision-making around bargaining strategy
* works with the provincial Executive team toward ensuring that the process for collective bargaining allows local bargaining units to achieve their priorities, while using the strength of provincial lobbying and discussions to achieve gains not available through local bargaining
Governance and the Future
As a member of the provincial Workgroup on a Process to Review Political and Governance Structure, Earl advocated for a broad-based consultation process to examine our future governance model.
Earl will:
* continue to advocate that OSSTF/FEESO's structures promote equitable opportunities for member involvement and leadership.
* promote greater member involvement and commitment to our collective goals at the local and provincial levels
* support improved communication practices with members and the public
* embrace new methods of communications that engage younger members
* promote improved environmental practices
