OSBCU Services Survey Press Tour:
In November 2024 over 12,000 education workers across Ontario completed the OSBCU’s services survey. The results were astounding and provided a clear picture of how the crisis in underfunding and understaffing in public education has created widespread violence, burnout and lack of supports for staff and students.
To get the survey data out into the public and pressure the government of Ontario to increase funding for education, the OSBCU coordinated a three-month press tour, releasing reports and media releases in key cities and regions and hosting press conferences for local media to attend. Halfway through the tour, over 25 articles, radio hits and news broadcasts have covered the OSBCU Services Survey press tour from Windsor to Peterborough. The story landed on the front page of many papers, including the Stratford Beacon Herald, The Londoner and the Peterborough Examiner.
Media coverage:
Press Progress: Ford government’s chronic underfunding of education is creating compounding issues for staff and students
CTV London: Violence and underfunding in Ontario classrooms say unions
The Hamilton Spectator: Ontario Education Workers Warn of Severe Understaffing and Underfunding in Windsor-Essex Schools
Provincial Results Report:
Province Wide – OSBCU Services Survey
OSBCU/CUPE Ontario Shine A Light Campaign:
Violence in schools has skyrocketed in Ontario. The majority of CUPE education workers are facing violent incidents at work and a third of members say it happens every day. Educational Assistants are being told to wear Kevlar padding and classrooms are frequently evacuated because there are not enough bodies in the room. Our schools are at a critical point and staff and students desperately need more support
The OSBCU has teamed up with CUPE Ontario to provide support for CUPE education workers experiencing violence in the workplace with the Shine A Light campaign. Throughout 2025 and beyond the Shine A Light campaign will provide essential supports and resources for education workers and bring public awareness to this critical issue.