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RTAM Launches 2024-2025 Substitute Teacher Concerns Committee Survey

The Retired Teachers' Association of Manitoba (RTAM) is excited to announce the launch of its newest initiative—the RTAM Substitute Teacher Concerns Committee Survey for 2024-2025. This comprehensive survey, developed by the Substitute Teacher Concerns Committee, aims to gather valuable insights from substitute teachers who are members of RTAM. The information collected will help RTAM better understand the current challenges faced by substitute educators, providing an opportunity to advocate for meaningful change in the work environment and conditions for retirees who continue to work as substitutes.

This robust survey covers a wide range of topics that directly affect substitutes, including issues such as adherence to contracts, access to insurance on job sites, wage disparities, and inconsistencies in job descriptions. The committee believes that by gathering feedback on these key concerns, RTAM can better represent its members in future negotiations with strategic partners. These insights will play a critical role in shaping the future of substitute teaching in Manitoba, ensuring that retired teachers who return to the classroom are supported and treated fairly.

We encourage all RTAM members who are actively involved in substitute teaching—whether full-time or part-time—to take the time to complete the survey. Your voice matters, and the more responses we receive, the stronger our ability to advocate for changes that benefit the substitute teaching community. Additionally, we invite you to share the survey with other RTAM members who may be teaching part-time or continuing to work as substitutes.

The results of the survey will be carefully reviewed and shared with RTAM members this summer. The data will be invaluable as RTAM moves forward with discussions and bargaining with educational partners. By improving the quality of work environments and addressing the concerns of substitutes, RTAM is committed to ensuring a better future for retirees who remain dedicated to the profession.

A huge thank you goes out to everyone volunteering on this committee as this survey was a large undertaking and managed in exceptional time. We appreciate your dedication and service to our community so much. Additionally, a special thank you is extended to David Harkness and Audrey Siemens for their contributions to this project during the Holidays this December. Their dedication and extra effort while out of country or with family have been instrumental in bringing this survey to life, and RTAM is grateful for everyone's hard work.