OSSTF Archives - Wilfrid Laurier University Staff Association

Bargaining Update: Ontario Government Conciliator Issues “No-Board” Report

September 16, 2026/in 2026, Bargaining, OSSTF/by Ryan Doyle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO ALL MEMBERS

WATERLOO, ON — Following intense rounds of collective bargaining, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) appointed conciliation officer has officially issued a “No-Board” report at our Union’s request.

Under Ontario labour law, a “No-Board” report signifies that despite the best efforts of our bargaining committee, our union and the employer have reached an impasse on key outstanding issues. The issuance of this report triggers a 17-day statutory countdown window.

At the end of the 17-day window, our Union will be in a legal strike position, and the employer will legally be able to lock us out.

What This Means for Our Membership

The Countdown is Active: Our Union hopes that the “No-Board” report encourages the employer to reconsider their last offer and work towards a negotiated tentative agreement before the 17-day window expires.
Bargaining Continues: A “No-Board” report does not mean negotiations have ended. Your bargaining committee remains fully prepared to return to the table at any moment to secure a fair and equitable collective agreement.
Preparation and Solidarity: Now more than ever, our strength lies in our solidarity. We urge all members to stay informed, attend upcoming information meetings, and ensure your Union local WLUSA office have your most up-to-date personal contact information.

Your bargaining committee is committed to achieving a contract that reflects the value of your hard work. We will issue updates of meeting schedules as the timeline progresses.

Stand strong, stay united, and watch for further updates via your local union communication channels.

National Indigenous History Month

June 18, 2026/in Did you know?, OSSTF, Uncategorized/by Tracy Cochrane

June marks National Indigenous History Month in Canada, a time to recognize, honour, and celebrate the rich histories, cultures, languages, ways of knowing and doing, and enduring contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (November 25 – December 10)

November 26, 2025/in Did you know?, OSSTF/by Tracy Cochrane

OSSTF/FEESO joins with the Canadian Labour of Congress (CLC) for the 2025 Global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, under the theme, Unions Rise Up Against Gender-Based Violence. This international campaign runs from November 25 to December 10 and includes December 6, Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action to End Violence against Women, a time where we honour the 14 women murdered at École Polytechnique in 1989 and recommit to ending all forms of gender-based violence.

https://osstfupdate.ca/2025/10/20/16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence-november-25-december-10/?link_id=30&can_id=421920a8bb72e89bf500e64256eaa29c&source=email-update-stronger-together-always&email_referrer=email_2985870&email_subject=osstffeeso-update-redfored-everywhere-protecting-credit-integrity

Student Achievement Awards 2026

October 16, 2025/in Did you know?, OSSTF/by Tracy Cochrane

OSSTF/FEESO is pleased to announce the opening of the annual Student Achievement Awards. This year, our Student Achievement Awards theme is “2Gether > 1 (Together Is Greater Than One).

Click Here

Equity Advisory Work Group—Call for Applications DBU#028/2025-2026

September 26, 2025/in OSSTF/by Tracy Cochrane

The Provincial Executive is seeking to fill two vacancies on the Equity Advisory Work Group (EAWG) for the 2025-2026 Federation year. The EAWG is a permanent advisory body to the Provincial Executive.

https://osstfupdate.ca/2025/09/17/equity-advisory-work-group-call-for-applications-dbu028-2025-2026/?link_id=27&can_id=421920a8bb72e89bf500e64256eaa29c&source=email-osstffeeso-update-world-education-support-personnel-day-get-involved-and-provincial-pride-4&email_referrer=email_2890767&email_subject=osstffeeso-update-back-to-the-grind-and-celebrating-franco-ontarians

Update Your Member Contact Information!

September 26, 2025/in OSSTF/by Tracy Cochrane

Make sure you get the OSSTF/FESSO info you need.

We—members, our students, our communities—are being pushed to our limits. But we have a plan to win better. Make sure your contact info is up-to-date so you can join us every step of the way.

https://www.osstf.on.ca

The Gender Wage Gap—It’s More Than You Think

April 21, 2025/in Did you know?, OSSTF/by Tracy Cochrane

E_Status of Women_April Download

Equal Pay Day 2025

April 7, 2025/in Did you know?, Labour Movement, OSSTF/by Tracy Cochrane

Each year, the Equal Pay Coalition (EPC) designates a day that represents the amount of extra time the average woman must work to catch up to what the average man earned in the previous year. This year, the designated Equal Pay Day (EPD) in Ontario is Thursday, April 10th, symbolizing the fact that a woman will work 15.5 months to earn pay equal to a man’s annual salary. Although pay equity is the law in Ontario, women continue to earn almost 30% less than men on average. This pay gap affects women of all ages and education levels. Black and racialized women, Indigenous women, 2SLGBTQI+ women, and women living with disabilities face the greatest wage disparity.

The EPC is comprised of dozens of unions, women’s groups and community organizations seeking to end gender pay discrimination and close the gender pay gap through legislation, collective bargaining, and social initiatives. OSSTF/FEESO is a member of the EPC and, as part of this coalition, we continue to urge the Ontario government to make meaningful changes to pay equity legislation and to remove other systemic gender barriers that lead to the wage gap.

On April 10th, to highlight Equal Pay Day, the EPC is hosting a hybrid “Lunch and Learn” from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. at the Centre for Social Innovation (192 Spadina Avenue, Toronto) and on Zoom. To open the event, EPC will have economist Armine Yalnizyan, who will address the gender impact of the current economic context. This will lead into a panel discussion presentation from frontline workers in public and private sectors that are being affected by the US tariffs. The event will conclude with an organizing workshop with organizer extraordinaire Pam Frache from Justice for Workers.

OSSTF/FEESO encourages members to take part in this event over their lunch break. If you’re planning to join, please register through Eventbrite to receive the Zoom link and confirm your attendance:

Equal Pay Day Lunch & Learn on Thursday, April 10th, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/equal-pay-day-free-lunch-learn-tickets-1303282465939?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join us in amplifying the Equal Pay Coalition’s message on Equal Pay Day! We encourage all OSSTF/FEESO members to take part by visiting Equal Pay Coalition (https://equalpaycoalition.org/), following them on Bluesky @equalpaycoalition.bsky.social and on Instagram @equalpaycoalition, and sharing videos featuring women in the care economy. You can also add the Equal Pay Day logo to your social media accounts to show your support. Stay tuned to OSSTF/FEESO’s social media channels for more ways to take action on Equal Pay Day! #EqualPayDay #EqualPay

If you require additional information, contact Samantha Wilson at the Provincial Office at samantha.wilson@osstf.ca.

Registration Now Open: 10th Annual ONABSE Provincial Conference

April 7, 2025/in OSSTF/by Tracy Cochrane

The Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators (ONABSE) has opened registration for its 10th Annual Provincial Conference, scheduled for Friday, May 30^th, and Saturday, May 31^st, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel—Toronto Airport.

https://osstfupdate.ca/2025/03/31/registration-now-open-10th-annual-onabse-provincial-conference/

Get Out the Vote – Member Engagement and Communication During the Provincial Election

February 14, 2025/in Education in Politics, Labour Movement, OSSTF, Provincial Election 2025/by Tracy Cochrane

Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario have called a provincial election for Thursday, February 27, 2025, a full 16 months prior to the legislated fixed election date set for June 2026.

OSSTF/FEESO is strongly encouraging members to pay close attention to this election and make sure you VOTE to fix public education before or on election day, February 27. The party who forms the next government will be across the table in the next round of bargaining for those Members covered by the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act (SBCBA). The new government will determine how education in Ontario will be funded for the next four years, from the early years through to post-secondary.

Your union has undertaken work to better engage and communicate to members about the provincial election at both the local and provincial levels. In some ridings, local leaders and member organizing teams have been canvassing and communicating with members using various means to keep you informed about the election and to encourage you to consider voting for candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to supporting public education.

As we approach election day, Members can expect to receive communications by phone, text, and/or email from the Provincial Office about advance polls and to remind Members to vote on election day. Communications you receive will depend on whether we have updated contact information in our database.

We are also encouraging members to take a Me + 3 approach to voting – bring three other people with you to vote either at an advance poll or on election day.

You can find out more about the provincial election by going to Vote to Fix Public Education, our on our website, including OSSTF/FEESO resources, a comparison of party education platforms, and information on how to vote from Elections Ontario on our page.

For more information, you can email campaigns@osstf.ca.