Certification, Experience and Pay  

Changing Group Placement

If you have not already done so, <click here> to link to "Understanding the Salary Grid" - this will provide you with an understanding about how you are paid, the Group Rating statement, and related experience.

Teachers generally qualify for a change in Group, when:

• they have successfully completed courses that will count towards an increase in Group; or

• new OSSTF Certification rules are in place (usually indicated in the "OSSTF Update" communications sent to teachers by Provincial OSSTF) that will now recognize previous courses, experience, etc. that were previously not recognized.  <Click here> to view the recent changes to OSSTF Certification rules

What must you do?

In order to be paid correctly on the salary grid, you require an updated Group Rating Statement from OSSTF.  This statement will place you in one of the 4 categories, depending on your Qualifications etc.  What to do?

• Apply to OSSTF for a re-evaluation of your Rating Statement.  Click here to link to the OSSTF Group Rating application form.  Complete it and return it to OSSTF, as per listed instructions

• Inform the Board immediately – Human Resources, in writing, that you have applied to OSSTF Certification for an updated Rating Statement. <Click here> to view a sample letter you can use.

• Once you receive your updated OSSTF Group Rating Statement, fax a copy to the Board – Human Resources.  

All correspondence not accompanied by an application form are returned and all documentation must be re-submitted with the completed application form. All correspondence is now pre-screened and any missing documentation is requested at this point in time. If the documentation is received before the file is complete, the file will be done in sequence as though the file was initially complete. It normally takes 10 weeks for turn around of applications or re-evaluations plus mailing time once all the materials are in and the file is completed for processing.

What date should you be paid retroactively?

Article 4.03 of the Collective Agreement states:  

A teacher who qualifies for a change in category shall receive the appropriate differential remunerative amount within thirty (30) days of receipt of the revised Certification Rating Statement by the Employer. Where documents are submitted to OSSTF on or before December 31^st , a teacher shall receive an adjustment in salary retroactive to September 1^st of that school year. The teacher shall notify the Employer in writing of such a submission being made. Where documents are submitted to OSSTF on or after January 1^st, and on or before June 30^th, a teacher shall receive an adjustment in salary retroactive to January 1^st of that school year, when the notification of the change is subsequently received. Notwithstanding the above, teachers, who have given written notice to the Employer that they have made application for such change in category, and who through no fault of their own are unable to provide the Certification Rating Statement by December 31^st or June 30^th , shall not be penalized.

It is imperative that you verify if the Employer has paid you to the correct retroactive date (Sept 1 or Jan 1).  If you have not been correctly paid, in accordance with the above parameters, inform the District Office immediately.