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  • Ontario’s Public Colleges at a Crossroads: Navigating the crisis and building a brighter Future

    Ontario’s Public Colleges at a Crossroads: Navigating the Crisis and Building a brighter Future

    Ontario’s public college system is facing an unprecedented crisis – and at the root is the province walking away from its responsibility to fund education.

    It doesn’t have to be this way. OPSEU/SEFPO has been working diligently for months to map a different path forward. The end result is in hand: a comprehensively researched policy paper that maps the past, present, and future of Ontario’s college system. Read here:

    A Better Plan: Solutions to the crisis in Ontario’s colleges.

    Willful neglect: The Story of How We Got Here

    Since the college systems’ inception, government support for our colleges has dropped from three-quarters of operating costs to less than 30%. Coupled with the Ford government’s embrace of deregulation and privatization policies, college operations became sustained on unregulated international student tuition – setting up the system like a house of cards.

    What’s happening to post-secondary education in Ontario is not happening anywhere else in Canada. Ontario comes dead-last for per-student funding among the provinces. Since 2010, tuition fees increased by a staggering 200% in Ontario compared to an average increase of 43% everywhere else.

    When Ontario’s colleges were established in the 1960s, it was widely recognized that colleges were to be a public good offering accessible, hands-on practical training, generating a sustainable labour force, and creating jobs directly in our communities. Today, the province has opted to encourage the privatization and exploitation of international student enrollment rather than providing sustainable, long-term public investment.

    The result? Record surpluses for college administrations – profits that were not reinvested in classrooms or student services. Instead, the money was used to expand administrative ranks and amass capital reserves, while class sizes grew, and precarious contract faculty positions mushroomed.

    Now, with federal restrictions on international student permits, Ontario’s public colleges are facing an immediate funding shortfall, with 21 colleges announcing program closures, 11 threatening layoffs, and 14 having reduced the contracts of partial-load faculty members. In addition, 9 colleges have let go of support staff and 8 have plans to reduce staff complement. These numbers are growing month by month.

    Instead of providing emergency funding to stabilize the system, the Ford government has abandoned our colleges in the middle of an unnecessary snap election – forcing them into austerity-driven program cuts and staffing reductions that threaten the core mission of accessible, community-oriented post-secondary education.

    This crisis is not inevitable, it is manufactured: caused by a deliberate political and financial strategy that must be reversed through collective action and public investment.

    Colleges must be held accountable, and the province must be pressured to increase funding to the national average to protect jobs, programs, and student success.

    The crisis in Ontario’s public colleges is no accident—it is the result of deliberate government policy and administrative mismanagement. It’s a classic conservative play to dismantle public goods: underfund, deregulate, and leverage the resulting crisis to clear the path for privatization.

    But this moment presents an opportunity: by mobilizing at the local, divisional, and sector-wide levels, we can push for real solutions and demand that Ontario reinvests in its public colleges.

    Faculty, staff, students, and the broader public must stand together to protect the integrity of post-secondary education and ensure that Ontario’s colleges serve their communities—not corporate interests.

    Take action to save our colleges!

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  • College Support Full-Time Organizing Training Meeting

    Dear Members,

    This is to advise you that the College Support Full-Time Mobilizing/Organizing Training
    Meeting has been scheduled. We need to be mobilized and organized for this round of
    bargaining. We are hosting training to provide a Local mobilizer/organizer, the skills and
    tools to harness the membership to support the Bargaining Team.

    Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Sunday, March 16, 2025 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

    Hotel: Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel
    600 Hwy 7
    Richmond Hill, ON
    L4B 1B2
    1-800-668-0101

    Single rate: $169.00 +taxes

    Meeting Room: 155 Lesmill Road, Boardroom A

    Registration: Saturday March 15, 2025 8:30 am – 9:00 am

    Parking: Complimentary
    *Note: valet parking receipts are not a reimbursable claim.

    Delegate Entitlement

    We ask each Local to recruit a Mobilizer/Organizer. Local Presidents please pick a person in your local who can be your local’s Local Bargaining Mobilizer/Organizer. This person should be a different person from the Local President because there will be a lot for Local Presidents to do during bargaining as well. This job title will change, but for now that person will be the point person in your local, to help local presidents, talk to members about bargaining and get them involved in bargaining, plan local events, run organizing campaigns at your local, communicate with the Bargaining Team. It should be someone your members trust, respect and listen to. Mobilizers should be good listeners who bring people together.

    Please notify Conferences and Travel at conferencesandtravel@opseu.org regarding the delegate for this event.

    Hotel Room Bookings

    In accordance with the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy Manual (Section 4.2), any member who resides further than 60 kilometers from the event may request that OPSEU/SEFPO make their hotel reservation on their behalf by completing the Hotel Registration section when registering for the event in the OPSEU/SEFPO Member Portal.

    OPSEU/SEFPO will be booking all hotel rooms centrally. Delegates will be reimbursed for single room hotel accommodation.

    Members are also responsible for payment of their hotel room upon check out as there are no charges billed back to OPSEU/SEFPO. Please save your itemized receipt and submit it with your Membership Expense Claim Form.

    Please also notify the Conferences Unit of any special accessibility needs that you may have with respect to your hotel room.

    Any additional nights outside of this policy must be pre-approved by the Conferences Unit, regardless of Region or distance from the event.

    OPSEU/SEFPO Travel Policy

    As per OPSEU/SEFPO policy (Section 4.2 7.1), the most economical means of transportation should be used. All delegates are to make their own travel arrangements. As per OPSEU/SEFPO policy, you are directed to use unionized providers where available.

    Please note all Membership Expense Claim submissions require itemized receipts.

    Human Rights Accommodation Request Form

    Should you require a human rights accommodation or have an existing accommodation under the Human Rights Code, please complete and submit the Human Rights Accommodation Request Form in full.
    Family, Dependent and Attendant Care are covered expenses for this event for those who require it at the event or at home.

    OPSEU/SEFPO Child Care Policy

    OPSEU/SEFPO undertakes to provide childcare services, when requested, at all union educationals, conventions, regional, divisional, and demand-setting meetings where the membership requests at least three weeks prior to the event. Members who bring their children to OPSEU/SEFPO sponsored functions should normally be required to use the on-site child care service if it is available. The three-week notice will ensure adequate time to process advances when requested. If no requests for on-site child care are received three weeks prior to the activity date, child care arrangements for on-site child care may not be made. If members then bring children to the event without the required notice, the member should be responsible for making his/her own childcare arrangements.

    Procedures for Online Submission of Forms

    Members are to complete their Event Registration, Hotel Booking and Child Care Registration through OPSEU/SEFPO’s Member Portal.

    Attached you will find the following documentation:

    1.  Advance Form
    2. OPSEU/SEFPO Human Rights Accommodation Form

    In order to confirm your registration, please submit all forms by email to the Conferences Unit (conferencesandtravel@opseu.org) no later than Friday, February 21, 2025.

    We appreciate your participation in these meetings.

    In Solidarity,

    Christine Kelsey
    CAAT Chair

    Authorized for Distribution:

    JP Hornick
    OPSEU/SEFPO President

    Savona-Palhinha, Laura

  • ACO/EMD Occupational Division Biennial Meeting

    Dear Members,

    This is to advise you that the Ambulance Communication Officer / Emergency Medical Dispatcher (ACO/EMD) Occupational Division Biennial Meeting has been scheduled.

    Date: Friday, March 21, 2025 9:00 am – 05:00 pm

    Hotel: Pan Pacific Hotel
    900 York Mills Rd.
    North York, ON
    M3B 3H2 1-833-437-7747

    Single rate: $179.00 +taxes

    Meeting Room: 155 Lesmill Road, Boardroom A

    Registration: Friday, March 21, 2025 8:30 am – 9:00 am

    Parking: Complimentary
    *Note: valet parking receipts are not a reimbursable claim.

    Please note: This is a hybrid event. If you elect to attend virtually, one week prior to the event a Zoom link with instructions will be sent to you. No expenses outside of time off (if required) will be reimbursed unless otherwise pre-approved. Meals for virtual participants are not covered. To inquire about pre-approval, please email conferencesandtravel@opseu.org.

    Delegate Entitlement

    Each OPS and BPS ACO worksite shall be entitled to two (2) delegates and up to two (2) alternates. Delegate entitlement to the Biennial Meeting shall be funded by OPSEU/SEFPO Head Office. Subject to local approval, alternate expenses will be borne by the local.

    Additionally, the members of Occupational Division Working Group shall be automatic delegates to the Biennial Meeting over and above their worksite entitlement.

    Credential Attestation Form

    The OPSEU/SEFPO Procedures Manual (Section 2.5) states two (2) signatures are required on all delegate credentials. We have provided one form for you to list all attendees on. The Credential Attestation Form must be signed by two (2) Local Officers.

    Please clearly identify your status, i.e. Delegate/Alternate/Observer.
    Note: other required forms cannot be processed until this form is received.

    All delegates are determined according to OPSEU/SEFPO’s Convention formula. Any alternate(s) and observers accompanying delegates are at the Local’s expense. Head Office will cover an alternate’s expense ONLY where the alternate attends instead of and in place of the Delegate. Please note that alternates, like delegates, must be elected.

    Hotel Room Bookings

    In accordance with the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy Manual (Section 4.2), any member who resides further than 60 kilometers from the event may request that OPSEU/SEFPO make their hotel reservation on their behalf by completing the Hotel Registration section when registering for the event in the OPSEU/SEFPO Member Portal.

    OPSEU/SEFPO will be booking all hotel rooms centrally. Delegates will be reimbursed for single room hotel accommodation.

    Members are also responsible for payment of their hotel room upon check out as there are no charges billed back to OPSEU/SEFPO. Please save your itemized receipt and submit it with your Membership Expense Claim Form.

    Please also notify the Conferences and Travel Unit of any special accessibility needs that you may have with respect to your hotel room.

    Any additional nights outside of this policy must be pre-approved by the Conferences and Travel Unit, regardless of Region or distance from the event.

    OPSEU/SEFPO Travel Policy

    As per OPSEU/SEFPO policy (Section 4.2 7.1), the most economical means of transportation should be used. All delegates are to make their own travel arrangements. As per OPSEU/SEFPO policy, you are directed to use unionized providers where available.
    Please note all Membership Expense Claim submissions require itemized receipts.

    Human Rights Accommodation Request Form

    Should you require a human rights accommodation or have an existing accommodation under the Human Rights Code, please complete and submit the Human Rights Accommodation Request Form in full.

    Family, Dependent and Attendant Care are covered expenses for this event for those who require it at the event or at home.

    OPSEU/SEFPO Child Care Policy

    OPSEU/SEFPO undertakes to provide child care services, when requested, at all union educationals, conventions, regional, divisional, and demand-setting meetings where the membership requests at least three weeks prior to the event. Members who bring their children to OPSEU/SEFPO sponsored functions should normally be required to use the on-site child care service if it is available. The three-week notice will ensure adequate time to process advances when requested. If no requests for on-site child care are received three weeks prior to the activity date, child care arrangements for on-site child care may not be made. If members then bring children to the event without the required notice, the member should be responsible for making his/her own childcare arrangements.

    Procedures for Online Submission of Forms

    Members are to complete their Event Registration, Hotel Booking and Child Care Registration through OPSEU/SEFPO’s Member Portal.

    Attached you will find the following documentation:

    1. Credential Attestation Form
    2. Advance Form
    3. OPSEU/SEFPO Human Rights Accommodation Form
    4.  Local that wish to use rebates for time off for alternates and observers Form

    In order to confirm your registration, please submit all forms by email to the Conferences Unit (conferencesandtravel@opseu.org) no later than Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

    We appreciate your participation in these meetings.

    In Solidarity,

    J.P. Hornick
    OPSEU/SEFPO President

    Savona-Palhinha, Laura

  • College Faculty DivEx Bulletin: A better plan for Ontario’s colleges

    Ontario’s Public Colleges at a Crossroads: Navigating the Crisis and Building a brighter Future

    Ontario’s public college system is facing an unprecedented crisis – and at the root is the province walking away from its responsibility to fund education.

    It doesn’t have to be this way. OPSEU/SEFPO has been working diligently for months to map a different path forward. The end result is in hand: a comprehensively researched policy paper that maps the past, present, and future of Ontario’s college system. Read here:

    A Better Plan: Solutions to the crisis in Ontario’s colleges.

    Willful neglect: The Story of How We Got Here

    Since the college systems’ inception, government support for our colleges has dropped from three-quarters of operating costs to less than 30%. Coupled with the Ford government’s embrace of deregulation and privatization policies, college operations became sustained on unregulated international student tuition – setting up the system like a house of cards.

    What’s happening to post-secondary education in Ontario is not happening anywhere else in Canada. Ontario comes dead-last for per-student funding among the provinces. Since 2010, tuition fees increased by a staggering 200% in Ontario compared to an average increase of 43% everywhere else.

    When Ontario’s colleges were established in the 1960s, it was widely recognized that colleges were to be a public good offering accessible, hands-on practical training, generating a sustainable labour force, and creating jobs directly in our communities. Today, the province has opted to encourage the privatization and exploitation of international student enrollment rather than providing sustainable, long-term public investment.

    The result? Record surpluses for college administrations – profits that were not reinvested in classrooms, faculty, or student services. Instead, the money was used to expand administrative ranks and amass capital reserves, while class sizes grew, and precarious contract faculty positions mushroomed.

    Now, with federal restrictions on international student permits, Ontario’s public colleges are facing an immediate funding shortfall, with 21 colleges announcing program closures, 11 threatening layoffs, and 14 having reduced the contracts of partial-load faculty members. In addition, 9 colleges have let go of support staff and 8 have plans to reduce staff complement. These numbers are growing month by month.

    Instead of providing emergency funding to stabilize the system, the Ford government has abandoned our colleges in the middle of an unnecessary snap election – forcing them into austerity-driven program cuts and staffing reductions that threaten the core mission of accessible, community-oriented post-secondary education.

    This crisis is not inevitable, it is manufactured: caused by a deliberate political and financial strategy that must be reversed through collective action and public investment.

    Colleges must be held accountable, and the province must be pressured to increase funding to the national average to protect jobs, programs, and student success.

    Take action to Save Our Colleges!

    Understanding the Crisis: Who is Responsible?

    1. Government Neglect: Ontario’s chronic underfunding of public colleges has forced institutions into unsustainable financial models, relying on international tuition instead of stable provincial funding.
    2. Administrative Mismanagement: College administrators embraced this unstable privatized model, prioritizing administrative expansion and financial reserves over hiring full-time faculty and investing in student learning.
    3. Lack of Emergency Funding: Despite the predictable decline in international student enrollment, the provincial government has failed to provide bridge funding, instead allowing program closures and layoffs to destabilize the sector.
    4. Erosion of Public Mandate: Public colleges were created to serve local communities and economies, but program cuts are hitting the most vulnerable populations and vital industries first, further shifting colleges away from their original purpose.

    Fighting Back: A Plan for the Future

    1. Immediate Provincial Investment: Ontario must allocate $1.4 billion in emergency funding to stabilize colleges and prevent mass layoffs and program cuts – the province’s own projected revenue shortfall.
    2. Long-Term Funding Reform: The province must increase per-student funding to the national average, a $1.34 billion investment, and adjust the funding formula to prioritize domestic student enrollment while maintaining the tuition freeze.
    3. Accountability for College Administrations: Colleges must reduce administrative excess, reinvest in full-time faculty and support staff hiring, and end the practice of accumulating massive annual surpluses at the expense of student learning conditions.
    4. Sector-Wide Mobilization: Faculty, staff, students, and the public must demand transparency and accountability, ensuring that post-secondary education remains a public good, not a profit-driven enterprise.
    5. Bargaining and Advocacy: With collective bargaining ongoing, faculty must resist austerity measures, ensuring that the crisis is not used as an excuse to further erode faculty working conditions or student learning environments.

    Conclusion: A Call to Action

    The crisis in Ontario’s public colleges is no accident—it is the result of deliberate government policy and administrative mismanagement. It’s a classic conservative play to dismantle public goods: underfund, deregulate, and leverage the resulting crisis to clear the path for privatization.

    But this moment presents an opportunity: by mobilizing at the local, divisional, and sector-wide levels, we can push for real solutions and demand that Ontario reinvests in its public colleges.

    Faculty, staff, students, and the broader public must stand together to protect the integrity of post-secondary education and ensure that Ontario’s colleges serve their communities—not corporate interests.

    Bargaining Update: Mediation Arbitration

    The College Faculty Bargaining Team and College Employer Council (CEC) have now booked dates – June 14-16, 2025 – for mediation-arbitration with Arbitrator William Kaplan. This process will determine the terms and conditions of our new collective agreement, including wages.

    The current Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed January 7th is not a new collective agreement. Until mediation-arbitration concludes, the terms and conditions of our previous agreement remain in place, with the exception of improvements to benefits for full-time members and breakthrough benefit gains for partial-load members (as outlined in the MOA).

    The bargaining team – with the support of OPSEU/SEFPO staff and legal counsel – is now in the process of preparing submissions for mediation-arbitration, expressly aimed at fighting back remaining concessions and improving our wages and working conditions.

    This process is taking place against the backdrop of many colleges threatening austerity because the Ford government continues to starve public systems, creating crisis after crisis in healthcare and education, refusing to listen to their own appointed panel on the matter.

    Withholding support for Ford at the ballot box is the next action every member can take to send a message that we will not stand for the dismantling and privatization of post-secondary education. Ontario’s colleges are important social and economic drivers in our communities that need stable, predictable public funding in line with the rest of the provinces, not dead last in the country.

    Part-Time and Sessional Faculty Move Closer to Union Certification

    After years of advocacy and legal proceedings, part-time (PT) and sessional (SL) faculty in Ontario’s college system are on the brink of union certification. The process, which began in 2017, reached a critical milestone in July 2024 when the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) authorized the opening of ballot boxes. This marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to secure better working conditions, fair wages, and job security for more than 13,000 precariously employed academic employees.

    The coming months will be pivotal as Ontario’s part-time and sessional faculty move toward stronger representation, improved working conditions, and a more equitable college system.

    Part-time and Sessional Faculty Town Hall
    March 19, 2025, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

    Join us for our first virtual Town Hall for part-time and sessional faculty scheduled for March 19, 2025 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM. Attendance is crucial as a launching point for organizing efforts going forward – invitations are to be distributed both physically (to Locals) and online across social media channels. If you are a part-time/sessional faculty member, or know colleagues who are, make sure to register and spread the word!

    Register for Town Hall here!

    Ballot Count and Next Steps

    Although the OLRB confirmed in July that the required 35% threshold of signed union cards was met, a notice issued in September 2024 delayed the opening of the ballot boxes. The OPSEU/SEFPO Organizing Unit continues to work closely with the OLRB and the College Employer Council’s (CEC) legal counsel to push the process forward. Once the ballots are counted and certification is granted, the union will proceed with collective bargaining, marking a significant turning point for all faculty.

    What’s to Come: Two Bargaining Units

    Similar to our Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology-Support (CAAT-S) counterparts, PT/SL faculty will form their own bargaining unit upon certification. This new CAAT-A Part-Time Division (CAAT-A PT) will operate alongside the existing CAAT-A Division (and renamed to CAAT-A Full-Time Division, or CAAT-A FT), which currently represents full-time and partial-load professors, instructors, counsellors, and librarians.

    Despite both Divisions falling under the OPSEU/SEFPO CAAT umbrella, each Division will have independent leadership, bylaws, bargaining teams, and collective agreements, although we expect extensive collaboration between the two Divisions.

    At the local level, the introduction of a PT bargaining unit will transform our currently single-unit locals into composite locals, meaning:

    • local bylaws will be required for all locals and will encompass matters across both units;
    • a likely expansion of local leadership to accommodate the required supports for new members, including an officer position deriving from the PT Unit; and
    • decisions on financial structures, budget allocations, and logistical supports will need to be thoroughly discussed to integrate the two units effectively.

    The transition will require careful planning, but the existing College Faculty Divisional Executive (DivEx), OPSEU/SEFPO staff, and local organizers are working diligently to ensure a smooth and efficient process.

    Support for Locals

    To facilitate the integration of PT/SL members, OPSEU/SEFPO has introduced several key support initiatives, including:

    • voting software to distinguish members by bargaining unit at General Membership Meetings;
    • Treasurer’s training to help locals navigate OPSEU/SEFPO’s financial policies; and
    • dedicated organizers to assist with faculty outreach and membership card signing.

    These resources will help locals adapt to their new structure while ensuring that PT/SL members receive the support they need.

    We need your help! 

    Beginning in January 2025, OPSEU/SEFPO has amplified its organizing efforts for PT/SL faculty, with strong collaboration from existing local leadership. While no official date has been set for the ballot count, once certification is confirmed, the new PT Division will have 60 days to issue a Notice to Bargain. In preparation, the DivEx is planning its annual Divisional Meeting to coordinate with PT/SL colleagues, ensuring all locals receive the necessary guidance and support.

    We are actively recruiting PT/SL faculty members interested in leadership roles at both the provincial and local levels. However, this process goes beyond simply visiting colleges and asking faculty to sign union cards. To establish a strong and comprehensive division, we need your support in identifying potential members.

    Faculty Coordinators, if you know a PT/SL member who may fit this bill, please get in touch with your Local! Alternatively, they can express their interest by completing the Leadership Survey, available in both English and French.

    Stay informed

    The journey toward bargaining PT/SL faculty’s first collective agreement will be challenging — based on the current experience of CAAT-S PT negotiations — highlighting the complexities ahead. However, this certification represents a historic milestone for all faculty.

    All faculty members are strongly encouraged to stay engaged by:

    • connecting with their locals, such as joining their mailing list;
    • attending local meetings and/or drop-ins; and
    • reaching out to your local if you have questions.

    In solidarity,

    Your CAAT-A Divisional Executive:

    Pearline Lung (she/her) – Local 562, Chair
    Michelle Arbour (she/her) – Local 125, Vice-Chair
    Jeff Brown (he/him) – Local 556
    Robert Montgomery (he/him) – Local 655
    Rebecca Ward (she/her) – Local 732

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    Betty Palmieri

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  • Grassy Narrows Vigil at Queen’s Park

    The Indigenous Circle of OPSEU/SEFPO invites you to join Judy Da Silva and Deputy Chief Bear Copenace from Grassy Narrows at Queen’s Park on Tuesday February 25th at noon for a vigil to honour those lost to the mercury crisis.

    You can RSVP here – https://freegrassy.net/doug-ford-compensate-grassy-narrows-now/

    Doug Ford has been invited to join as well and speak with community members and leadership about what he will do to end the mercury suffering.

    Please share with your groups and on socials if you’re able and hope to see you there!

    *Please note you will be attending on your own time*

    apedersen

  • OPSEU/SEFPO Local 214 reaches tentative agreement with Pathstone Mental Health

    After a long final day of negotiation, OPSEU/SEFPO Local 214’s bargaining team for children’s mental health workers at Pathstone Mental Health has reached a tentative agreement with the employer, just before the lockout deadline that was set for 12:01 am, February 22.

    Details about the tentative agreement will be shared first with Local 214 members at Pathstone, who will have an opportunity to vote on whether to accept the tentative agreement next week in a ratification vote.

    On behalf of Local 214 members, the bargaining team would like to thank our communities in Niagara Region for your support leading up to today’s negotiations. It means so much to us to have the support of the families and neighbours that we support every day.

    We will provide an update after the ratification vote takes place.

    mlanglois

    ,

  • Ontario’s Physician Coroners join OPSEU/SEFPO in historic vote

    In a historic move, Ontario’s Physician Coroners have voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) making them the first doctors in Ontario to unionize.

    “This is a pivotal moment for Ontario’s Coroners,” said Dr. Jeannie Walton, President of the Ontario Coroners Association. “For years, Ontario’s death investigation system has been struggling under the weight of poor policy decisions. We know that with the voices of the front-line coroners at the table, we can advocate for improvements that will once again make our system the best in the world.”

    Ontario Coroners first filed an application for certification with the Ontario Labour Relations Board in 2022. With this application, an overwhelming 96 per cent voted in favour of joining OPSEU/SEFPO. Despite this strong vote, the Crown rejected it, denying the physician coroners the right to collectively bargain due to their profession. This marked the beginning of their fight to secure the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining as guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

    In April of 2023, OPSEU/SEFPO filed a constitutional challenge, demanding the province recognize Coroners’ rights to bargain collectively. This challenge, along with ongoing organizing by Coroners and OPSEU/SEFPO, led to years of negotiations with the Crown to establish a Framework Agreement. In late 2024, the agreement was finalized and it was ratified by Ontario Coroners earlier this month.

    “This vote is a hard-earned victory, achieved despite high turnover due to stagnant wages and increasing job instability. We persevered because we understood the consequences of inaction for our profession and for the Ontario public. I am proud of the very dedicated physicians who, as coroners, service the public of Ontario in many ways. While physician coroners work tirelessly to Speak for the Dead to Protect the Living, we can now ensure that physician coroners have a voice to address systemic issues and restore Ontario’s Death Investigation System to the once-revered system it was,” added Dr. Jeannie Walton.

    This month’s vote marks a significant turning point in the fight for fair working conditions and job protections for the 350 Coroners in Ontario, who will now officially become a part of the union that represents more than 180,000 public service workers across this province.

    “The historical significance of this moment and the four years it took to get here cannot be understated,” said JP Hornick, President of OPSEU/SEFPO. “This vote has empowered a crucial sector of front-line medical professionals to advocate for better working conditions through collective bargaining for the first time. I could not be happier to welcome Ontario Coroners to OPSEU/SEFPO.”

    Katie Arnup

    ,

  • PHOLine Bargaining Bulletin: Taking our demands to arbitration

    PHO web banner: Blood Services and Diagnostics.

    PHO refuses to address our need for fair compensation

    After seven bargaining dates, where we tabled our reasonable collective demands to the employer, a negotiated deal could not be reached, despite the hard work of your bargaining team.

    One of the major sticking points is that the employer is refusing to address our need for parity with hospital professionals who do the same work we do, but receive higher compensation.

    • PHO has refused to agree to wage parity with hospital professionals.
    • PHO has also refused to agree to parity with hospital professionals on evening, weekend and callback premiums.

    Taking our demands to arbitration

    Just like hospital professionals, we are also bound by HLDAA (Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act) and do not have the right to strike, so we will be moving to interest arbitration.

    It’s ironic that, while we are treated like hospital professionals in labour law, we aren’t treated like hospital professionals by our employer when it comes to compensation.

    During interest arbitration, all outstanding issues will be submitted to a neutral third party, an arbitrator, who will make a final and binding decision – this is called issuing an award.

    Our demands are reasonable and we look forward to taking them to arbitration in the near future. We’ll provide more information as it comes available on upcoming arbitration dates.

    Have you been denied full payment for paramedical benefits?

    It came to our attention during bargaining that our members were having all paramedical benefit claims limited to “reasonable and customary limits”, which is a violation of Article 21.4.8 of our collective agreement.

    Only our psychological benefits are subject to “reasonable and customary limits” under our collective agreement language.

    File a grievance today if this has impacted you!

    If you have had any paramedical benefit claims other than psychological benefits limited or not paid out fully due to “reasonable and customary limits”, it’s time to file a grievance!

    A policy grievance (by the union) and individual grievances (by members impacted) need to be filed as soon as possible. We are coordinating grievances and can help you file your individual grievance.

    Send an email to your bargaining team chair, Casey McGuire, at kc.mcguire1374@gmail.com and include the following information:

    • Your full name and job title
    • Your local number (if you know it)
    • Your work location/office
    • A brief description of the benefit claim that was subject to “Reasonable and customary limits”.

    There is strength in numbers! The more individual grievances we file, the stronger the message to the employer that we will enforce our collective agreement language.

    A message from OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick:

    “I want to commend all of you, and your bargaining team, for standing strong together and demanding fair compensation for the hard work that you do. I encourage everyone to get involved in the grievance action to protect your paramedical benefits. When the employer sees you coming together to enforce your contract, it shows that you are willing to stand together and fight for your rights, especially as you move into arbitration. PHO members will not be standing alone – you have your entire union, OPSEU/SEFPO, behind you as well.”

    Update your contact info and stay in the know!

    We need at least one contact person in every local! If you’d like to volunteer to be a contact for your local, email Casey McGuire at kc.mcguire1374@gmail.com.

    We are committed to keeping all members informed on arbitration developments by sending regular bulletins.

    Here’s how to update your contact information:

    1. If you haven’t already signed an OPSEU/SEFPO card, fill out your member application form here: https://hub03.opseu.org/Forms/emaweb
    2. If you’re already a signed OPSEU/SEFPO member, register for the Member Portal to update your information here: https://members.opseu.org/

    Click here for instructions on how to create a Member Portal account and update your info: https://shorturl.at/V9QXL

    In solidarity,

    Your Bargaining Team:

    Casey McGuire, Bargaining Team Chair, Local 412 – kc.mcguire1374@gmail.com
    Cathy Masterson, Bargaining Team Vice Chair, Local 522 –  mascf1@gmail.com
    Jason Gasgas, Local 545 –  jason.gasgas@yahoo.com
    Deanna Thompson, Local 432 – oct15bride@gmail.com
    Pak Yip, Local 545 – pakmingyip@gmail.com

    mlanglois

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  • Grassy Narrows Vigil – Feb 25th at Queen’s Park

    The Indigenous Circle of OPSEU/SEFPO invites you to join Judy Da Silva and Deputy Chief Bear Copenace from Grassy Narrows at Queen’s Park on Tuesday February 25th at noon for a vigil to honour those lost to the mercury crisis.

    You can RSVP here – https://freegrassy.net/doug-ford-compensate-grassy-narrows-now/

    Doug Ford has been invited to join as well and speak with community members and leadership about what he will do to end the mercury suffering.

    Please share with your groups and on socials if you’re able and hope to see you there!

    *Please note you will be attending on your own time*

    Carter, Megan

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  • Labour Canvass for Sarah Jama, Independent Candidate for Hamilton Centre

    Join the Labour Canvass for Sarah Jama, Independent Candidate for Hamilton Centre on Saturday, Feb 22 from 10 am to 2pm.

    To take part, please arrive at 185 King St E in Hamilton at 10 am.

    apedersen

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  • Did You Know?! – Black History Month Series Part 3: Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back! *Plays Mase – “Welcome Back”*

    Understanding the Symbols of Unity and the Ongoing Fight for Justice

    As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the powerful legacy of Black resilience, pride, and the ongoing fight for justice, equality, and liberation. This celebration is not only a recognition of past achievements but also a call to action for continued progress, especially within the labor movement. In this third segment of our “Did You Know?!” series, we will explore the rich history and significance behind the symbols of Black History Month, with a special focus on the colors of the Pan African flag, the Negro National Anthem, and how these intersect within the Canadian labor movement.

    Why Black, Green, Red and Yellow?

    These are more than just colours; they are symbols of unity, pride, and the collective struggle of people of African descent worldwide. These colours are a combination of the Pan African flag and Ethiopian flag, and each colour carries a profound meaning:

    • Black: Represents the people of Africa or people of African descent across the globe, acknowledging the shared history and experiences of Black
    • Green: Symbolizes the land, natural resources, and the potential for a prosperous future for the African continent, reflecting hope for continued
    • Red: Represents the blood that unites all people of African ancestry, honoring the sacrifices made throughout history for liberation and acknowledging the bloodshed of innocent lives in the fight against racism and
    • Yellow: Represents optimism, justice, and equality for all people, underscoring the ongoing fight for a world where equality prevails.

    The Pan African flag, designed by Black nationalist Marcus Garvey in 1920, was intended to unite people of African descent worldwide in their fight against oppression, colonialism, and racism. Garvey, a leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), adopted these colours to help build a sense of pride, identity, and unity among Black communities.

    The flag’s connection to Ethiopia is particularly significant. Ethiopia was one of the few African nations to successfully resist colonization, maintaining its independence throughout the European caused genocide of our people in Africa. This made Ethiopia a powerful symbol of Black independence, pride, and resistance. For African Americans and diasporic Black communities, Ethiopia’s independence served as an inspiration and a reminder of the possibility of freedom and sovereignty in the face of oppression.

    The Negro National Anthem: A Symbol of Hope and Resilience

    Another important symbol of Black history and unity is the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Written in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson (lyrics) and John Rosamond Johnson (music), it was originally performed by a choir of schoolchildren in Jacksonville, Florida, to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Over time, the song became a powerful anthem for the African American community, symbolizing resilience, hope, and the unyielding fight for equality.

    “Lift Every Voice and Sing” became a central hymn of the Civil Rights Movement, embodying the collective struggles of Black people in the United States, and its message of hope continues to resonate today. The song encourages the celebration of freedom and justice, while acknowledging the painful history of oppression that has shaped the lives of Black people. It serves as a reminder of the need to continue striving for a just and equal society, a message that resonates far beyond the borders of the U.S., including in Canada.

    The colors of the Pan African flag and the anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” reflect the unity of Black communities globally. In Canada, these symbols intersect with the fight for labour rights. Much like the Pan African movement sought to unite people of African descent against colonialism and oppression, labor unions have been a platform for collective action in the fight against racial discrimination and economic inequality.

    As we reflect on Black History Month, we are reminded of the rich cultural legacy of Black people and the continuing fight for justice, equality, and liberation. The struggles of the past, embodied in the Pan African flag and the Negro National Anthem, are far from over. The push for justice within unions today is as much about racial justice as it is about workers’ rights, and the spirit of unity symbolized by the Pan African flag continues to inspire today’s activists.

    Whether in the United States, Canada, or globally, the fight is ongoing. Black workers, like their ancestors, continue to lead the charge for better wages, fair treatment, and equality in the workplace.

    By understanding the symbols of Black history and their connection to both the global and Canadian struggles for freedom, we honour the past and empower the future. As we move through the rest of Black History Month and beyond, I encourage you to continue learning, engaging, and standing in solidarity with the Black community as we work towards a more just and equitable world.

    Thank you for reading and stay tuned for the next segment, there is so much more to unfold!

    Nicole Anozie

    Equity Executive Board Member
    Board Liaison for the Coalition of Racialized Workers

    apedersen

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