The National Day of Mourning is an important day for Canada’s unions and for workers across the country. Ceremonies and events allow workers and families to come together to mourn for the dead and recommit to our fight for the living.
On April 28, join us in remembering those workers who were injured, made sick or killed because of something that happened at work, and in demanding better, starting with better enforcement of the Westray Law. This is part of how we honour those we’ve lost and those harmed on the job.
LOCATION: Worker’s Monument, Riverside Park, Cambridge
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 2024
TIME: 10:30 am
Reimagining Canada Post with services to support every community.
This is thinking outside the box that we can show solidarity with.
Check it out:
This Black History Month, Canada’s unions are celebrating the history and legacy of Black community members who have stood for justice and made Canada a more equitable country.
Thousands of workers across all U of T campuses and three different chapters of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are threatening to go on strike if they do not reach a new deal with the university by March 4.
Some 3,000 academic workers at York University walked off the job Monday after the union representing them and the school failed to reach a deal on a new collective agreement.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/york-university-strike-1.7125523
OFL Presents Young Workers Toolkit
The OFL has recently released a new digital resource for young workers entering unionized environments called the Young Workers Toolkit. The goal of the guide is to nurture young workers who want to be active participants in their local, unit, affiliate, and/or regional labour councils, but are unsure of what concrete steps can be taken to reach that goal. Please share widely with all the young workers in your life!
PSAC are planning a conference on Saturday, February 10th as part of the organizing drive to support the campus organizers. The conference aims to provide an overview of the big themes and skills needed to unionize the workplace. We also want to connect student workers to organizing and social movements that are happening in the broader communities.
If you are able to spread the word and share it with your network to anyone who may be interested, that would be greatly appreciated! Here are some links below:
Conference registration:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/organizing-conference-tickets-789240428367
Campaign: https://www.unionizewlu.ca/
Deficits and budget cuts are a systemic problem across the post-secondary sector across all of Ontario. We are all being forced to do more with less, or in our case less with less. The Ford government is doing everything it can to privatize not only our healthcare system but also education.
We can no longer sit back and think that Ford’s policies are someone else’s problem. While the next provincial election is a long way off this should not mean that we do not call out our local MPPs. This is a call to action; to stand against those are seeking to dismantle public education.
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 31, 2023
ETFO joins OSSTF/FEESO arbitration process for Bill 124 wage remedy
TORONTO, ON — The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) is proud to announce that 3,500 education workers represented by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) are joining with OSSTF/FEESO in their fight to reclaim wages unjustly lost under the Ford government’s disastrous and unconstitutional Bill 124.
“Today, we celebrate labour solidarity in the face of the Ford government’s continued attacks on our members and all workers who provide the vital public services that Ontarians rely on every single day,” said OSSTF/FEESO President Karen Littlewood. “Our solidarity is our strength, and I am encouraged to have ETFO’s education worker members join us as we stand up to Doug Ford and his government’s heavy-handed attempts to undermine public education in Ontario.”
Added ETFO President Karen Brown, “With the strength and solidarity of our members behind us, ETFO is prepared to work alongside OSSTF/FEESO to challenge Bill 124 during the binding arbitration process. Since its unconstitutional inception, ETFO has denounced Bill 124 and challenged the Ford government’s interference and overreach. We’re confident that by joining OSSTF/FEESO, ETFO members will benefit from a strong, united front that will result in a fair and just remedy.”
In September, OSSTF/FEESO’s Membership voted to approve a proposal guaranteeing that Members will receive a financial remedy for wages lost under Bill 124, which unfairly capped public sector wage increases to one per cent a year, causing severe staffing shortages and unnecessary disruptions to student learning.
Earlier this month, ETFO’s 3,500 education worker members ratified a four-year deal with the provincial government that included a similar agreement to ensure those members submit the Bill 124 wage remedy to binding arbitration.
The decision to bring ETFO members into the voluntary binding interest arbitration process, negotiated between OSSTF/FEESO and the Crown, will mean that the two unions will present a united front during the Bill 124 arbitration dates on January 15 and 16, 2024. Both groups will present evidence and arguments in support of a fair and just remedy for Members who had their wages unconstitutionally suppressed by the Ford government.
“It’s been nearly four years since the Ford government’s ill-fated decision to pass Bill 124, and the consequences of this devastating legislation have been felt by every education worker, student, and parent in Ontario,” concluded OSSTF/FEESO President Karen Littlewood. “Severe staffing shortages caused by Bill 124 have undermined student learning conditions and placed
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significant burdens on staff who work in public education. The ripple effects of this bill extend beyond the classroom, affecting all our public services, our economy, and most importantly students in Ontario. It’s well past time to right this grievous wrong and restore justice to our dedicated members.”
Noted ETFO President Karen Brown, “Earlier this year, instead of ending its attack on workers and moving to remedy, the Ford government doubled down on violating workers’ rights by moving forward with an appeal. This move, done in the midst of negotiations with ETFO and other education unions, undermined collective bargaining and wasted taxpayers’ money. Not another public dollar should be spent on their ill-advised attempt to violate workers’ rights. The premier and education minister must refrain from overreach, support all education workers and public education, and focus on reaching fair agreements in good faith.”
OSSTF/FEESO, founded in 1919, has over 60,000 members across Ontario. They include public high school teachers, occasional teachers, educational assistants, continuing education teachers and instructors, early childhood educators, psychologists, secretaries, speech-language pathologists, social workers, plant support personnel, university support staff, and many others in education.
ETFO represents approximately 83,000 members, including public elementary teachers, occasional teachers, designated early childhood educators, education support personnel, and professional support personnel. Details about ETFO collective bargaining and bargaining dates are available at etfocb.ca.
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Contact: Caitlin Reid
Media and Communications Advisor
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation
416-576-8346
Carla Pereira
Media Relations
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
416-962-3836
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