MLITSD health and safety enforcement inspectors conducted over 340 visits to schools and board offices in Ontario. The OSBCU, along with other allied unions and associations, collected and charted many of the inspector’s field visit reports. During the initiative, inspectors issued approximately 114 orders of non-compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”), including seven (7) requirements to provide documentation to inspectors. Still, we observed many instances where inspectors reported non-compliance with the OHSA but refused to issue time-based orders. Instead, the inspectors allowed employers to self-comply in the circumstances.

While the school year comes to a close, the need for continuing to build worker power continues! In our spring forums we will be providing space for workers to discuss not only the issues at hand but will be providing insight on how to connect with people in our community to build power and support beyond our local and provincial spaces. Learn how to work with your trustees and be part of developing campaigns that reflect the needs of your classification for the upcoming school year. You can scan the QR codes for you classification forum or you can find them on OSBCU social media.

It’s purpose is to highlight the work that education workers proudly perform every day in our schools and what you and your coworkers accomplish together.

Tentative agreement documents

Important Member Update The OSBCU Bargaining Team will be bringing a tentative agreement to the membership. There will be no job action tomorrow. Our members will be reporting to schools to continue supporting the students that we are proud to work with. Members should watch for more information regarding webinars and ratification vote details shortly. This fight has always been focused on the workers and it is important that workers have a voice on what has been presented.

Education workers serve five days’ strike notice as government refuses to fund vital services for students Toronto, ON – After getting an imposed contract that would have further harmed Ontario schools off their backs with the repeal of Bill 28, Ontario’s lowest-paid education workers have given five days’ notice of a potential province-wide strike. CUPE’s Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU) central bargaining committee, negotiating for 55,000 frontline education workers, was able to reach a middle ground with the Ford government and the Council of Trustees’ Associations (CTA) on wages.

5 day notice served November 16 2022 Despite many late hour attempts to achieve a freely negotiated settlement talks have again broke down and the difficult decision was made to serve the 5 day notice of strike to the Council of Trustees Association & Government. The OSBCU remains focused on not only achieving a deal that provides workers with a livable wage but ensures that the services that students need are improved and protected.

Important Bargaining Update November 15 2022 The bargaining team has concluded negotiations for the evening. A link for an all members meeting at 11am & 6pm has been sent to presidents. We are trying to secure translation. An additional meeting may be added if numbers warrant. We encourage all members to participate in the meeting to hear full details of the ongoing negotiations. Please connect with your local president to receive the link.

Bill Repealed but Still No Deal November 14 2022 The bargaining team has remained at the table since the government announced that Bill 28 would be repealed - today Bill 28 was repealed. The government’s position has minimally changed since last week. Our commitment remains to achieve a freely negotiated agreement that respects workers, students and families. At the request of the mediator we will not be providing a full update until tomorrow.

​November 14, 2022 With Bill 28 repealed, education workers need a significant wage increase and funding for services that would demonstrate government’s commitment to student success TORONTO, ON – The following is a statement from Laura Walton, educational assistant and president of CUPE’s Ontario School Boards Council of Unions: “This afternoon, Ontario’s education workers have their rights back. With the shadow of Bill 28 lifted, education workers can now focus on achieving a fairly negotiated collective agreement that meets the needs of students, families, and workers.