Hello everyone here is the minutes of both labour relations and workplace safety committees. If you have any concerns or items to add to the agenda of these committees please submit it to the people down below at least one week before their next scheduled meeting.

With the change over to our new password reset system I have had several emails from people voicing concerns over using the Microsoft Authenticator app.  Although most of you have now installed it, I thought I would explain it in a little more detail, to hopefully alleviate the concerns of those who haven’t yet.

The Microsoft Authenticator app gives us zero access to people’s phones, and doesn’t do anything like location tracking or collect information from your phone.  We can’t exercise any control or have any visibility into the phone’s use or it’s contents through this application.  The only thing it does is deliver a code to you when you open the app.  This code is generated by Microsoft, and is a way for the system (not us) to verify that the person changing their password is the person attached to that user account and not a hacker.  This is known as two-factor authentication (TFA), which many financial institutions, social media sites and others are using as a means to help verify identity.  It provides us with a line of defense against hackers compromising peoples accounts, and hopefully will help us avoid some of the major compromises (ransomware, personal data theft, etc.) that has hit Canadian educational organizations over the last few years.

Your should also be aware that this app consumes very little data, so it won’t affect your bill.  It is not the same as a text message.  It only uses a tiny bit of data when you open the app to get the code, so tiny it’s almost immeasurable.  Plus you will only need to use it when you change your password (once every three months-ish) or unlock your account.

If you don’t want to use the app or don’t have a smartphone, there is the option to use an alternate email address to get the code.  We would prefer if people didn’t use this option for two reasons.  If you need to use a school division computer to access your personal email to get the code, you may not be able to if you are currently locked out.  Also, we have found that when people’s GSCS account gets compromised quite often their personal email accounts are compromised as well.  This enables hackers to intercept the code and the change of password.

The interesting thing about compromised accounts is you are usually completely unaware.  Hackers are very good a hiding and covering their tracks.  To give this some perspective, on any given day we have 200 to 400 compromised and high risk accounts.  High risk accounts are ones showing unusual activity.  An example of what we will typically see with these compromised accounts: you will be logged in at your school and at the same time you’ll be logged in from Russia.  Whoever is at the other end (in Russia or other countries) will be reading all of your emails and accessing data that you have access to.  This data could be your paystubs, student data that you have access to or any other GSCS data source you can access.  Sometimes the hackers will even elevate your privileges without you (or us) knowing immediately, giving them access to even more systems in our school division.  This is a very serious threat, not only to privacy but potentially with financial ramifications if they could access your financial information, social insurance number, etc.

I hope this email addresses of your concerns about the Authenticator app and why we are making these changes.  We are only implementing security systems to try to avoid a major security incident striking our school division down, as we have seen happen to others across the country and in our province over the last short while.  Education is a prime target for organized crime over the last four or five years, and the intensity of this activity has been increasing aggressively. The changes we are making are designed to protect you, our students, and, our data and systems. As we are doing this, we are carefully selecting processes that are the least invasive to you.

Hello all Support, Service and Out of Scope Staff,

I hope this email finds you well.  First, thank you so much for your continued support of our students, families and communities.  It is truly and genuinely appreciated.  As shepherds looking after the herd it is not surprising that at times we, too, need support.  If we do not look after ourselves then eventually we are unable to look after others.

The Board recognizes the need to provide ongoing support to all our employees.  As such, the Employee Family and Assistance Program(EFAP) was initiated many years ago. A new and updated brochure is attached.  In the brochure you will notice a new service provider, ComPsych,  which specifically targets Support, Service and Out of Scope Employees.  ComPsych offers a host of services which are outlined in the attached poster.

The service is active now, so please feel free to reach out and seek support if you need.  The support is for yourself as well as your family members.  If you are currently seeing another EFAP service provider, feel free to continue to work with them.

Employee Family Assistance Brochure Jan 2021 ComPsych poster
Employee Family Assistance Brochure Jan 2021

If you have any questions please contact Katherine Kowal-Manager HR Services (7110) or myself.

God Bless you in your work.

Thanks.

Darryl

FOR EMPLOYEES AND

ELIGIBLE MEMBERS OF

THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY

Sponsored by:

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Board of Education

People face a variety of challenges in their day to day lives. Issues, such as emotional stress, marital breakdown, financial problems, parenting issues or addiction can arise as the result of the strains and stresses of modern living. When we have problems in one area of our lives other areas such as health, spirituality, relationships or work performance may suffer.

Generally, people have the skills and abilities to deal with these challenges successfully. Sometimes, however, life issues, by their nature, are too complex or too large to solve using normal coping strategies. When this happens the resulting anxiety may drain an individual of energy and effectiveness. It is then your Employee and Family Assistance Program may be helpful.

The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provides confidential and professional counselling to employees and eligible family members experiencing difficulty. Your EFAP is designed to support employees and their families to ensure a healthy personal and work life.

Eligibility

All Greater Saskatoon Catholic School employees and their immediate families, spouse and dependent children living with the employee, are eligible. The EFAP program will pay for a total of 10 (ten) fully funded sessions for employees and/or eligible immediate family members per calendar year. Group programs are also covered.

Employees are encouraged to familiarize members of their immediate family with these benefits.

General Inquiries

For general information about the EFAP, contact the EFAP Coordinator at 306-659-7110.

Confidentiality

The EFAP program is designed to safeguard the privacy and rights of employees. Each agency is independent of the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division. All counsellors are guided by a Professional Code of Ethics. Personal information, including your name, will not be released to the employer and will be kept confidential by the counselling service. Discussions between the employee/family member and the counsellor are held in strict confidence.

How Do I Make An Appointment?

You may access the EFAP 12 months of the year by calling one of the independent counselling agencies for an appointment. A counsellor should respond within 24 to 48 hours and appropriate sessions scheduled. If necessary, appointments may be arranged outside the agencies regular office hours.

1) CFS Saskatoon (formerly Catholic Family Services)

Phone: (306) 244-7773

2) Professional Psychologists & Counsellors (PPC)

Phone: (306) 664-0000 Toll Free: 1-888-425-7721

3) ComPsych (coverage effective January 1, 2021)

Phone: (833) 515-0766 TTY: (877) 373-4763

Late Cancellations/No Shows

The cost of late cancellations (less than 24 hours) and no shows, are charged to the program. Please make every attempt to keep your appointment or provide more than 24 hours advanced notice of cancellation. Each appointment not cancelled or rescheduled within this timeframe will be considered a session.

Hello Brothers and Sisters of CUPE Local 3730

The Executive wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your hard work and dedication in your roles with the GSCS. We know that this year has been a year of ups and downs and that it has been trying, to say the least. There have been many changes to the way we do things and a lot of uncertainty around these times. We want to remind you that we are here to help you with any questions you may have. Remember that we are all a part of this great local, Local 3730, and that if you don’t ask the questions you need answered we cannot answer them. We would also like to remind people of the Employee Assistance Program that is available for members to take advantage of in these troubled times.

The Social Committee has been busy and is working towards some ideas they have that will allow us to connect with each other via zoom for now and possibly as a group later in 2021. Stay tuned for information on this and remember that the General Membership Meeting will be on January 30th, 2021. Hopefully you can all attend. It is likely that the upcoming General Membership Meeting will be held via zoom so please watch your personal emails for the notice.

Our Communications Officer has also made our web site live and you can have a peek at it at your convenience. You will find it at 3730.cupe.ca. The website will be continuously updated with new information so please use it as a helpful resource, now and in the future. Please remember to keep updating your personal email with us to stay informed.

On behalf of the Executive we wish that you all have the best Christmas and the happiest of New Years and that God may bless you in all that matters.

“In the countryside close by there were shepherds out in the fields keeping guard over their sheep during the watches of the night. An angel of the Lord stood over them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. Look, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people.” – Luke 2:8-10

Great news everyone!!

The board of trustees have ratified with our collective agreement. They hope to have our back pay on the 15th of December but at the latest the 31st. Either way on the 15th our 2% increase will be added on the 15th for sure.