No matter if it’s housing, healthcare, the economy, or anything in between, every election issue affects 2SLGBTQI communities. That’s why it’s essential for 2SLGBTQI experiences to be understood in elections at every level.
With so much at stake in the upcoming federal election, our ability to engage and activate our membership effectively will help secure the best outcomes for workers across Canada.
Reckless Trump tariffs, economic uncertainty, and shifting voter priorities are shaping the national discourse. This election will determine the future of labour rights, job security, and social policies for years to come — we cannot afford to leave anything to chance.
Polling shows the Top Concerns of Canadians are:
Tariffs, Cost of Living, Healthcare, The Economy, and Housing Affordability.
The CLC has developed messaging resources to support a consistent national narrative:
• Tariff Key Messages (EN / FR): Background on the issue, Trump tariff impacts, and CLC positioning.
• Workers Together Playbook – (EN / FR) – Outlines core components of the election campaign.
• Rapid Response Key Messages – Updated weekly throughout the writ period to reflect emerging narratives.
Stay up to date! Get involved by signing on to the campaign:
Or text “Workers” to 55255
Share widely across your networks to support the national mobilization efforts.
The Waterloo Region Labour Council (WRLC) invites you to join them for their annual Day of Mourning ceremony. This solemn event will honor and remember workers who have suffered injuries, illnesses, or have tragically lost their lives on the job.Date: April 28thTime: 10:30 amLocation: City of Waterloo Workers Memorial (outside Waterloo City Hall)Click here for a printable poster!
This year’s Day of Mourning theme is “Workers demand action on invisible injuries and hazards”. To ensure that workers are protected from all hazards in the workplace, we are asking all levels of government to, without delay:
• Create greater awareness of invisible injuries and hazards through public awareness campaigns.
• Legislate air quality standards for indoor workers.
• Ensure workers know the chemicals they use by ending WHIMIS consumer product exemptions and raising the standard for WHMIS education.
• Deliver consistent coverage of workplace injuries, including invisible injuries like chronic pain and stress.
The federal election is also on April 28. Canada’s unions are urging workers to support politicians who prioritize workers’ best interests – like by upholding and enhancing workplace health and safety laws – and who will put workers first, above corporate interests. We encourage everyone to make an e-day plan.
Here’s a rundown of each party’s platform on higher education
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.
The days are getting longer, the weather is finally warming up, and the end of another school year is on the horizon. Yes, spring is here, the season of new beginnings and fresh starts. But spring isn’t just a time to clean out your closets – it’s a great time to declutter your finances, too!
Here are a few ways to help you spring into action and make your money work harder for you.
For a full list of financial ‘to-dos’ this spring, check out this article: https://bit.ly/41R4b7y.
Ready to give your finances a spring clean?
Schedule a financial review with an Educators financial advisor to help you tidy up your finances. With nearly 50 years of experience working with educators like yourself, their professional accreditation will help you keep on track to meet your goals.
Visit https://bit.ly/427jxDK or call 1.800.263.9541 to get started today.
Educators Financial Group has been offering financial planning and a wide selection of investing and lending products and services exclusively to education members and their families since 1975. It is this strong history that has enabled them to become the education community’s financial specialist — empowering educators to achieve their financial goals.
* Conditions apply. Speak to an Educators Financial Group Mortgage Agent for full details. Brokerage License 12185.
The Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators (ONABSE) has opened registration for its 10th Annual Provincial Conference, scheduled for Friday, May 30th, and Saturday, May 31st, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel—Toronto Airport.
https://osstfupdate.ca/2025/03/31/registration-now-open-10th-annual-onabse-provincial-conference/
The Upcoming Federal Election in Canada: Why It Matters for OSSTF Union Members
As prepared by and with thanks to Brock University Support Staff
In 2007, Berwick, Nova Scotia, after a new student at their school was bullied for wearing a pink shirt, two grade 12 students bought 75 pink shirts and encouraged their classmates to wear pink. The next day they went to distribute the shirts and to their surprise the majority of students arrived wearing pink! With that act of kindness, Pink Shirt Day was born.
In recognition of the Berwick event, Nova Scotia proclaimed the second Thursday of September “Stand Up Against Bullying Day.” In 2008, British Columbia proclaimed February 27th to be the provincial anti-bullying day, and the movement has continued to grow. In 2012, the United Nations declared May 4 as Anti-Bullying Day. The last Wednesday each February is Canada’s officially-recognized national Pink Shirt/anti-bullying day.
Many countries recognize specific days for raising awareness about the prevention of bullying and promoting kindness and inclusion. In Canada, many students have heard the Pink Shirt Day message from kindergarten through to their high school graduation. The movement continues to grow
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