AGM Speech in Support of My Candidacy for President

8/16/2019 AGM Speech in Support of My Candidacy for President

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My Speech to the OSSTF District 12 AGM, in support of my candidacy forPresident and E.O.

!isit my "e#site at $o# Scott % President &

This morning I didn’t know which shirt and tie combo to wear. My two and a halfyear old daughter picked this out…when she looked at me and said “Daddy I likethis one” I had to go with it. I want her to know that I trust her. I remember the rsttime as a new teacher I felt that the teachers I worked with really trusted me. Ireali!ed they trusted me because they knew I lo"e teaching. #ut I don’t feel likemany teachers trust our union anymore.

$nd it’s because our e%ecuti"e has lost its rst lo"e. &rom the e%ecuti"e o'cers allthe way up to the president. They ha"e lost their rst lo"e. The lo"e of teaching.

(adly) they ha"e abandoned the lo"e of the classroom for the lo"e of politics. *owelse do you e%plain being inside the +iberal +eadership con"ention) while classroomteachers are outside) protesting for our rights and for education,

They lo"e politics....and minor league politics at that.

They thought a - / /// donation to 0athleen 1ynne’s leadership campaign wouldbuy us some in2uence. #ut corporate law rms) boasting in e%cess of 3// lawyersgi"e e"ery one of their lawyers the legal ma%imum) - 44/) to donate to the +iberalparty) totalling nearly -5 million while being e6ecti"ely an in"isible donation.

$nd those law rms) represent corporate interests that need the austerity agenda togrow and become entrenched.

(o who bought in2uence, 1ell) since being elected what has 0athleen 1ynne donefor us, #y any measurement our return on that in"estment has been remarkablylow. #ut tonight the e%ecuti"e’s incumbents will tell you they stand for strong)decisi"e and e6ecti"e political action.

$nd then there’s the trustees.

7ur leadership’s "ision is to gi"e money and teacher can"assers to trustees theythink will be friendly.

They e"en ha"e a cute name for it. “Ten Dollars for a #etter #oard” e%pectingteachers to donate - / to this e6ort.

#ut trustees are minor league politicians with ma8or league aspirations. 9ot manyreally want to be career trustees. *ere is a list :osh Matlow) now a city councillor)(u 1ong) now an M;;) (haun


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The D 5 e%ecuti"e claims we were successful in electing a "ery good slate oftrustees in the last election) but by the e%ecuti"e’s own admission) those trusteesare reluctant to get in"ol"ed in negotiations...so is it really - / for a better board,

$nd how much is it for a better contract,

In addition to phrases like “strong political action” you will hear a great deal ofboasting about e%perience tonight.

+istening to our e%ecuti"e talk about e%perience) is a little like listening to thecall language in the pro"ince) but they won’t tell you they ha"e beenpowerless to do anything about our district ha"ing the worst bene ts in thepro"ince.

$ll that e%perience and they still can’t communicate with us unless there’s anelection approaching.

I ha"e a double ma8or *onours Degree in Mass


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1e need a president whose rst lo"e is the classroom.

I will empower the "oice of the classroom teacher. Mute buttons are for tele"isions.

1e are e%perts in science) math) economics) history) the arts) the en"ironment)technology among others and to not listen to us is foolish.

I will be in the schools. 7ften. It’s leadership by wandering around. There is noreason I can’t grab a laptop) a cell phone and ha"e an o'ce anywhere) e"en in yoursta6room for a day or two. Meeting with members) listening to members)understanding members and their lo"e of the classroom. ?ou and your colleagueswill know what I look like.

@egular communication with members is the hallmark of a leadership that maintainsits rst lo"e. $nd I belie"e that task should be shared with the membership. I willtrain a group of "olunteer ambassadors) they could "isit schools taking our messageto the members and bringing the members messages back to us. This would ha"ebeen a great tool this year when the strike was launched in 9o"ember. 1e couldha"e had a representati"e in e"ery school in a matter of weeks.

Aetting to the D 5 o'ce is a barrier to engagement for many members. 7urmeetings can take place anywhere in the city) or online for that matter) or both.1hen the members cannot get to the union) take the union to them.

$s a member of the


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ne"er talked about the mental health crisis that e%ists in education. $nd it’s atragedy. +iterally) I lost a colleague and "ery good friend to suicide a couple ofyears ago) because she felt like she had to come back before she was ready. $ndwhen bills need to be paid) and your struggling with your thoughts) and you don’tknow where to turn) tragedy happens. 1e need to ensure that e"ery member hasthe knowledge to access lea"e when he or she needs to. 1e need to ensure thatmembers are educated to recogni!e early signs of stress and mental health issuesand can act before they become o"erwhelmed. 1e need to ha"e a con"ersationabout what you can do when you see a colleague in distress. 1e need to work withoutside groups like Teacher’s life) ;residential positions. 9e%t week your "ote can change this union. I ask you

to "ote for me) @ob (cott) for ;resident of D 5.

@ob (cottMay E) 5/ F

Documents

AGM Speech in Support of My Candidacy for President