My name is Sam Zurzolo and I am running for the position of Vice President of the Winnipeg Teachers Association.

I have been a public-school teacher for 17 years. I have been teaching Math, Science, Physics and Computer Science in junior and senior high at Gordon Bell, Tec Voc and finally Elmwood.

It was at Gordon Bell that I was first introduced to the WTA. A colleague invited me to participate as a representative. He promised I would find good sandwiches, and amazing coffee. Neither of those turned out to be true, but what I did find was a group of people passionate about the safety and protection of the rights of their fellow teachers. I found myself in a place where I belonged.

I was moved by the passion of the people around me and wanted to get involved at the executive level. I ran for and won a seat at the executive committee in 2015. Over my time I have been with the wellness, group benefits, Workplace health and safety, negotiations, substitutes, and finance committees. I was a member of the table team in 2018, bargaining for our collective agreement across from the school division. In 2020 I became the Treasurer and a Table officer of the WTA. I chaired the Finance Committee and was responsible for our budgets, audits and bank accounts.

As the only table officer running, I’m the one candidate that has participated in meetings with school trustees, bringing forward concerns of teachers directly to the decision-makers, organizing and setting the goals of the association and working alongside the President and Vice-Presidents in their portfolios. I’m the one cadidate that has supported teachers when they were surplused at locations. Being there to ensure their fair treatment, as a resource to answer questions, as an advocate, and also reaching out to the principals to hear their concerns.

I am a member of the Educational Finance Standing Committee of the MTS, a committee responsible for analyzing the funding of education across the province. We provide feedback and guidance to the MTS Provincial Executive through the chair of the committee to focus our advocacy efforts for Education funding. We also provide guidance to the financial analysts and staff for our fall and spring Ed finance seminars; a place where we arm finance chairs from the other locals with information for their school division budgets consultations and give them a firm foundation to speak from when they discuss teacher loads, class lists and building expectations.

I have educated myself throughout my ten consecutive years on Executive attending conferences such as Lancaster House and CAPSLE where I studied and learned about law decisions concerning education, school division and most importantly teachers. I participated in bargaining training in Edmonton and I attended the Manitoba Federation of Labour AGM as a delegate to show my solidarity with labour groups around the province.

Many of you have seen me on the floor of the Annual General Meeting of the MTS; I ask the questions that shine lights on inconsistencies or things that affect our members. I also argue for fiscal responsibility on the MTS; fighting against a flippant view of MTS dues and the fiscal loads on teachers.

I am passionate about safety for teachers. We are working in increasingly violent workplaces and the violence needs to end. There is no excuse when a teacher is harmed. The Workplace Safety and Health portfolio is one of the most critical in the coming years. I will work with the President as we meet with the Superintendent and reduce violence in the workplace.

I am passionate about ensuring that our teachers’ workload returns to a rational level. Workload creep has hit a breaking point again. With the changes to inclusion, “sticky” schools, contact expectations, and even the hints of home visits, it is time to pressure the division with making reasonable expectations the norm.

I am passionate about building up future leaders in the association. With every role in the executive, I’ve always wanted to be open to sharing my knowledge for whomever takes my place. The first step of a leader is planning for succession. I am always encouraging people to join the executive. I am always looking for people to get involved. I am passionate about equipping a diverse group of people to be able to take my place when I move on.

To sum up; I am here to represent you. I have spent ten years volunteering my time to represent you; I have worked hard to ensure this association represents you and I ask that you let me continue representing you as your Vice-President. Please vote for Sam Zurzolo to be the next Vice President of the WTA.

Thank you.