REPORT: UNDERSTAFFING OF EDUCATION WORKERS IN ONTARIO SCHOOLS

This report examines the growing staffing crisis in Ontario schools and its impact on students, education workers, and school communities. Drawing on government data, school board records, and CUPE-OSBCU research, it highlights worsening staff shortages, unmet student needs, and increasing workloads across the education system. 

Download the report to explore the evidence behind Ontario’s staffing crisis and learn why increased investment in education workers is essential to supporting student success, safety, and well-being.

CUPE-OSBCU Report – Understaffing of Education Workers in Ontario Schools NOV 2026

CUPE-OSBCU Report – Short Version – Understaffing of Education Workers in Ontario Schools NOV 2026

FR CUPE-OSBCU Report – Understaffing of Education Workers in Ontario Schools NOV 2026

OSBCU 2026 Central Bargaining Update #13 – November 3, 2026

 

OSBCU 2026 Central Bargaining
Update #13 – November 3, 2026

Update on the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) Process

Last week CUPE-OSBCU was at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) to conclude our arguments in the dispute over the scope of central bargaining. As we have reported earlier, before we can actually start bargaining on the issues that matter to you, we need to have a settlement on what issues will be negotiated centrally and what can be negotiated by local unions.
Yesterday, the CUPE-OSBCU bargaining committee met at the OLRB to see if it was possible to get a settlement. The committee remained committed to defending the rights of CUPE locals to negotiate on important issues. Throughout the day it was clear that it would not be possible to get a settlement, and we have asked the Vice-Chair of the OLRB who heard our case to provide us with a decision.
We expect the decision will be released very soon, hopefully within the next two weeks, which will allow us to get to the bargaining table and present our proposals to the Ministry of Education and the Council of Employers’ Associations.
Bargaining Dates
In anticipation of a decision by the OLRB on scope of central bargaining, the CUPE-OSBCU bargaining committee has agreed to the following bargaining dates:
A full package will be presented on our first day at the bargaining table, which will lay the foundation for negotiations to improve staffing levels, wages, benefits, job security, and many other issues that matter to you.

CUPE-OSBCU Strike Vote:
The OSBCU is asking all members to vote YES in the strike vote from November 4th at 12:01 AM EST to November 18th at 6 PM EST. We will be tabling our bargaining proposals with the government and school boards shortly after the strike vote concludes. Going into bargaining with the highest possible strike mandate is a crucial way to show our power and that you are firmly committed to winning better wages and benefits, stronger job security, and more education workers in schools.
Need help signing in?
Email credentials@dataonthespot.com or call 1-833-368-7123
 
Prefer to vote by phone? 
Phone voting is available throughout the voting period. Call the DOTS Support line at 1-833-368-7123. DOTS Support will verify that you are on the list to vote and explain the next steps. If you reach their voicemail, please leave a message and your call will be returned.

To update your contact information for bargaining updates
click here!

Ontario Teachers and Education Workers Host Regional Education Rallies

LONDON, ON – On Saturday, October 24, Ontario teachers and education workers will hold coordinated rallies in five cities across the province, united in the fight for Ontario’s publicly funded schools.

Continuing a strong show of solidarity and coordinated action for collective bargaining in the education sector, five major education unions representing 255,000 workers are joining forces to organize rallies that bring together parents, families, and local community members in their respective city hubs with one common demand: invest in publicly funded education.

Alongside London’s local rally at Victoria Park, large crowds will also be gathering at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Waverley Park in Thunder Bay, and Bell Park in Sudbury. In addition to hearing from provincial and local leaders and education union representatives, parents and community members will share how underfunding and understaffing have affected our schools and how, together, we can fight for the publicly funded education system students deserve.

WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET

WHERE: Victoria Park Bandstand, 509 Clarence St, London

WHO:

  • Christa Rioux, Secretary Treasurer, Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU)
  • Maria Moftah, Conseillère/Councillor, Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO)
  • Mario Spagnuolo, President of the Greater Essex Teacher Local, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
  • Melissa Garrett, Provincial Councillor, Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA)
  • Roxanne Beauchamp, Executive Officer, Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF)
  • Lisa Weiler Haskins, President of the Educational Assistants Association (EAA) and a member of the Education Workers’ Alliance of Ontario – Alliance des travailleuses et travailleurs en éducation de l’Ontario (EWAO-ATEO)
  • Patti Dalton, President, London and District Labour Council

 

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INTERVIEWS: Media are invited to attend Saturday’s London rally for on-site interviews with union leaders, teachers, education workers and other speakers. Local and provincial education leaders are also available for phone or virtual interviews in advance of October 24.

To book an advance interview, arrange on-site coverage, or request details on local rallies, contact:

Before October 24:

Shannon Carranco

CUPE Communications

(514) 703-8358

scarranco@cupe.ca

On October 24:

Chitra Kunnath

CUPE Communications

(416) 317-0285

ckunnath@cupe.ca

MEDIA RELEASE: Thousands of Ontarians to Attend ‘Together for Publicly Funded Education’ Rallies

MEDIA RELEASE: Thousands of Ontarians to Attend ‘Together for Publicly Funded Education’ Rallies

October 24, 2026

ONTARIO — This afternoon, thousands of teachers, education workers, families, and supporters will gather at local community landmarks across Ontario in a major province-wide show of support for publicly funded education. Large crowds will gather at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Victoria Park in London, Bell Park in Sudbury and Waverley Park in Thunder Bay. Each ‘Together for Publicly Funded Education Rally’ will be hosted by leaders from Ontario’s major education unions and attended by local teachers, education workers, families, and community members. Media will have the opportunity to hear directly from those experiencing the modern realities of Ontario schools.

These coordinated rallies come at a critical moment. The latest Financial Accountability Office report confirms that real per-student funding, already near a 10-year low, is set to fall even further. Municipal elections are just days away, but fewer people are running for school trustee in large part because Bill 101 has undermined the role. The biggest issues facing Ontario’s publicly funded education system will be at the centre of Saturday’s rallies: the $6.5-billion funding gap; the teacher and education worker retention and recruitment crisis; class sizes and complexity; violence and safety in schools; special education and mental health supports; growing provincial control over school boards; and what the current round of bargaining could mean for students, families, and the future of publicly funded education.

WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET

WHERE:
London: Victoria Park
Ottawa: Parliament Hill
Sudbury: Bell Park
Toronto: Queen’s Park
Thunder Bay: Waverley Park

“Ontario’s students deserve schools that are fully funded, fully staffed, and equipped to meet their needs. A $6.5-billion funding gap means fewer staff, fewer supports, and fewer opportunities for students. Today, thousands of people across the province are sending a clear message to the Ford government: Ontario’s students deserve better, and publicly funded education is worth investing in.” – Martha Hradowy, President, Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO)

“For years, teachers have been sounding the alarm about chronic underfunding from the Ford government and how it has eroded the world-class education system they inherited. Educators have always done what is necessary to provide the best for our students – but we cannot continue to do more with less. The Ford government needs to step up and invest in the classroom resources students depend on every day. Today’s joint rallies show that Ontario teachers and education workers will never stop fighting for the education system students deserve.” – René Jansen in de Wal, President, Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA)

“The government’s ongoing failure to adequately fund public education is leading to larger class sizes, fewer supports, and growing unmet student needs. At the same time, the increasing push toward privatization threatens the integrity of Ontario’s publicly funded education system. Together with our education union partners, ETFO members are calling for the investments needed to support every student and every educator.” – David Mastin, President, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)

“Ontario’s public education system is at a breaking point. Years of chronic underfunding have left schools struggling with severe understaffing, rising violence, and students going without the supports they need to succeed. Education workers are doing everything they can to support students, but they cannot continue to make up for a system that lacks the resources it needs. The provincial government must invest in our schools, hire more education workers, and ensure every student has access to the supports they deserve.” – Joe Tigani, President, CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU)

“Our publicly funded education system is where students build their futures, where equal opportunities take shape, and, for our Francophone communities, where we nurture and preserve our language and culture. Teachers and education workers already carry an enormous weight on their shoulders, too often without the resources and support they need to do their jobs. This must change. Because ultimately, the working conditions of teachers and education workers are the learning conditions of our students.” – Gabrielle Lemieux, President, Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO)

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VISUALS: High-resolution photos, video, and broadcast-quality B-roll from rallies will be available to media, by request. INTERVIEWS: Media are invited to attend any of the five rallies today for on-site interviews with union leaders, teachers, education workers and other speakers.

To arrange on-site coverage or request media assets, contact:

AEFO—Marianne Raina at 613-218-3702 or mraina@aefo.on.ca

CUPE-OSBCU—Shannon Carranco at 514-703-8358 or scarranco@cupe.ca

ETFO—Carla Pereira at 416-576-9074 or cpereira@etfo.org

OECTA—Michelle Despault at 416-818-7533 or m.despault@catholicteachers.ca

OSSTF/FEESO—Caitlin Reid at 416-576-8346 or caitlin.reid@osstf.ca

OSBCU 2026 Central Bargaining Update #11 – October 22, 2026

 

OSBCU 2026 Central Bargaining
Update #11 – October 22, 2026

(Version française ci-après)

Update on the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) Process

Good afternoon,

Yesterday was the OSBCU’s second hearing date in the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) process involving CUPE-OSBCU and five other education unions.

As reported in our last bargaining update, the unions are challenging the Ford government’s power grab to move issues that have traditionally been bargained locally to the central bargaining table. These include local union leave, layoff and recall language, unpaid leaves of absence, and other local bargaining issues.

The unions’ legal teams are working cooperatively to present their arguments. Yesterday, each union completed its submissions on the remaining issues. Following the unions’ submissions, the Ministry of Education and the Council of Employers’ Associations (CEA), which represents school board employers across Ontario, began presenting their response. They will have two days to respond to the unions’ submissions, followed by a half day for the unions’ legal teams to respond to the Ministry and the CEA’s arguments.

Following the hearings on October 28, the OLRB is expected to issue bottom-line decisions in all matters, along with its reasoning. We are hopeful a decision will be available in early November, allowing us to get back to the bargaining table and continue fighting for the funding, staffing, and supports that education workers and students deserve.

We will continue to provide updates as the OLRB process progresses.

 

More opportunities to get involved to fight for funding and staffing!:
  1. October 24 Regional Rallies: We’re two days away from the Rallies for Publicly Funded Education! Rallies will be held in five cities across the province in London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Toronto! You do not need to get on a bus to sign up, so register today and tell a friend to join you! Let’s get as many members out to a rally and show this government that we are united in our calls for a properly funded public education system in Ontario. Register now: https://bit.ly/Together4Ed
  2. OSBCU Roadshow: OSBCU elected leaders continue to hold meetings across Ontario to speak with members to provide bargaining updates, information on our mobilization plan, and the work we need to do to prepare for the November strike vote. Take a look at the upcoming dates and make sure you register today: OSBCU Roadshow – Ontario School Board Council of Unions

In Solidarity,

Your OSBCU Bargaining Committee

 

To update your contact information for bargaining updates
click here!

 

OSBCU 2026 Central Bargaining Update #10 – October 7, 2026

 

OSBCU 2026 Central Bargaining
Update #10 – October 7, 2026
(Version française ci-après)

Update on the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) Process

Good afternoon,

As reported in our last bargaining update, yesterday was the first education worker hearing date at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB).

To recap, CUPE-OSBCU and five other education unions are fighting back against the Ford government’s proposal to move issues that are typically bargained locally to the central bargaining table, like local union leave, local layoff and recall language, unpaid leaves of absence, among others.

The unions’ legal teams are working cooperatively to present their arguments. During yesterday’s hearing, they presented their submissions on four common issues:

  1. Contracting out
  1. Local union leave
  1. Short-term unpaid leaves
  1. Transfer/surplus/redundancy timelines

Our next hearing date is set for October 21, where each union will complete their submissions on any remaining issues. Following the unions’ submissions, the Ministry of Education and the Council of Employers’ Associations (CEA – the organization representing all school board employers across Ontario) will have two days to provide their responses to the unions submissions, followed by a half day for the unions’ legal teams to provide a response to the Ministry and the CEA’s submissions.

Following the hearings on October 28, the OLRB will issue bottom line decisions in all matters and will provide their reasoning. We are hoping to receive a decision on this in early November, after which we can get back to the bargaining table and continue bargaining for the gains in funding and staffing education workers and students deserve!

More opportunities to get involved to fight for funding and staffing!:
  1. October 24 Regional Rallies: Registration is open for the upcoming rallies organized by Ontario education unions! Rallies will be held in five cities across the province in London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Toronto! You do not need to get on a bus to sign up, so register today and tell a friend to join you! Let’s get as many members out to a rally and show this government that we are united in our calls for a properly funded public education system in Ontario. Register now: https://bit.ly/Together4Ed
  1. OSBCU Roadshow: OSBCU elected leaders continue to hold meetings across Ontario to speak with members to provide bargaining updates, information on our mobilization plan, and the work we need to do to prepare for the November strike vote. Take a look at the upcoming dates and make sure you register today: https://osbcu.ca/roadshow/

In Solidarity,

Your OSBCU Bargaining Committee

To update your contact information for bargaining updates
click here!
Négociations collectives centrales du CSCSO 2026

Mise à jour n° 10 – 7 octobre 2026

Mise à jour sur la procédure devant la Commission des relations de travail de l’Ontario (CRTO)

Bonjour,

Comme nous l’avons indiqué dans notre dernière mise à jour sur les négociations, la première audience concernant les travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation s’est tenue hier devant la Commission des relations de travail de l’Ontario (CRTO).

Pour résumer, le SCFP-CSCSO et cinq autres syndicats de l’éducation s’opposent à la proposition du gouvernement Ford visant à transférer à la table de négociation centrale des questions habituellement négociées localement, telles que les congés syndicaux locaux, les dispositions locales relatives aux mises à pied et aux rappels, ainsi que les congés sans solde, entre autres.

Les équipes juridiques des syndicats travaillent en collaboration pour présenter leurs arguments. Lors de l’audience d’hier, elles ont présenté leurs positions sur quatre enjeux communs :

  1. Sous-traitance
  2. Congés syndicaux locaux
  3. Congés non rémunérés de courte durée
  4. Délais relatifs aux mutations, aux excédents et aux mises à pied

Notre prochaine audience est prévue pour le 21 octobre, date à laquelle chaque syndicat présentera ses observations sur les questions en suspens. À la suite des observations des syndicats, le ministère de l’Éducation et le Conseil des associations d’employeurs (CAE) disposeront de deux jours pour répondre aux observations des syndicats, puis les équipes juridiques des syndicats auront une demi-journée pour répondre aux observations du ministère et du CAE.

À l’issue des audiences du 28 octobre, la Commission des relations de travail de l’Ontario (CRTO) rendra ses décisions définitives sur toutes les questions et en exposera les motifs. Nous espérons recevoir une décision à ce sujet au début de novembre, après quoi nous pourrons retourner à la table de négociation et poursuivre les pourparlers afin d’obtenir les gains en matière de financement et de dotation en personnel que les travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation ainsi que les élèves méritent!
D’autres occasions de vous mobiliser pour lutter en faveur du financement et de la dotation en personnel! :
  1. Rassemblements régionaux du 24 octobre : Les inscriptions sont ouvertes pour les prochains rassemblements organisés par les syndicats de l’éducation de l’Ontario! Les rassemblements auront lieu dans cinq villes de la province : London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay et Toronto! Vous n’avez pas besoin de prendre l’autobus pour vous inscrire, alors inscrivez-vous dès aujourd’hui et invitez un ami à se joindre à vous! Mobilisons le plus grand nombre possible de membres pour participer à un rassemblement et montrons à ce gouvernement que nous sommes unis dans nos revendications pour un système d’éducation publique adéquatement financé en Ontario. Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant : https://bit.ly/Together4Ed
  2. Tournée de présentation du CSCSO : Les dirigeant(e)s élus du CSCSO continuent d’organiser des réunions partout en Ontario pour discuter avec les membres, leur faire part des dernières nouvelles concernant les négociations, leur fournir des renseignements sur notre plan de mobilisation et leur expliquer le travail que nous devons accomplir pour nous préparer au vote de grève de novembre. Consultez les dates à venir et assurez-vous de vous inscrire dès aujourd’hui : https://osbcu.ca/roadshow/

En solidarité,

Votre comité de négociation du CSCSO

Pour mettre à jour vos coordonnées afin de recevoir les mises à jour sur les négociations, cliquez ici!  Inscrivez-vous pour recevoir les mises à jour !

OSBCU 2026 Central Bargaining Update #9 – September 20, 2026

 

 

OSBCU 2026 Central Bargaining
Update #9 – September 20, 2026

 

CUPE-OSBCU Education Worker Leaders Vote to Hold Strike Vote 

This weekend leaders from CUPE school board locals from across the province gathered to discuss OSBCU central negotiations, bargaining proposals, and to move ahead with holding a strike vote this fall.

 

The strike vote for all 57,000 CUPE-OSBCU Education Workers will be held electronically from November 4 to 18. More information will be provided about strike vote details and strike pay and benefits in the event of a strike in the weeks to come. The OSBCU Central Bargaining Committee is asking all members to vote yes to strike if necessary. We need to show the government that we’re standing strong and united behind our bargaining proposals to win more staff, improved job security, better wages and benefits, better jobs and a better education system for students, parents and our communities.

CUPE-OSBCU will continue to keep members informed on bargaining through bargaining updates, member webinars (the next one is on September 23), and through town hall meetings being held across the province this fall (see below for more information).

 

Update on the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) Process

On Thursday, September 17, legal representatives from CUPE and other education worker and teacher unions met at the OLRB to set hearing dates. To recap, the OSBCU and other education unions are fighting back against the Ford government’s proposal to move issues that are typically bargained locally to the central bargaining table, like local union leave, local layoff and recall language, unpaid leaves of absence, among others. Your OSBCU bargaining committee is opposed to the government’s attempt to further centralize control on bargaining issues that have traditionally been negotiated locally. Yet again, this is another power grab by the Ford Conservative government to take direct control from workers and undermine collective bargaining, making it harder to negotiate real improvements on issues workers and students are facing every day.

Our goal is to settle this process at the OLRB as quickly as possible. Hearing dates for all education worker unions, including CUPE-OSBCU, will be held on October 6, 21, 27, and 28. Hearings for all unions will be done by October 30. 

 

The board has agreed to issue its decision quickly, so we expect to have that decision in early November. We can exchange proposals with the government and the school boards within 15 days of receiving that decision, so we expect that we will be at the bargaining table again right around the same time that we will have our strike vote results.

 

And that’s why we need a strong strike mandate with maximum member participation! The bargaining committee needs to meet the employer on day one of bargaining with the confidence that all 57,000 members support the demands for increased staffing, improved job security, and better wages and benefits.

 

Your Collective Agreement Remains in Place!

Although our collective agreement expired at the end of August, it still remains in place and locals need to continue to enforce their collective agreements! The protections in your collective agreement are still in full effect while we continue bargaining. 

There are four opportunities to get involved and fight for more funding and staffing:

1) Join us on Wednesday, Sept 23 at the OSBCU’s Webinar Rallying for Public Education, where we’ll share more information from our leadership meeting and talk openly about the issues that sometimes raise conflict between members: sick leave, the wage grid, and equal pay for equal work. We’ll also talk about the OSBCU roadshow, which starts the last week of September and wraps up the first week of November, with a stop in your area. We’ll also share information about how members can get involved in the October 24 rallies.
Register Here: Webinar Registration – Zoom

2) On Monday, Oct 5th the OSBCU is organizing a phone zap from 6-7pm. This is an easy way to take political action together. Join the zoom for a short training and script provided to call Doug Ford, Paul Calandra and local PC MPPs. No experience necessary! The goal is to put pressure on Ford, Calandra and PC MPPs. Click on this link to register: https://osbcu-ca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KyWZS0djQbiLerlJMPvx4Q#/registration


3) OSBCU Provincial Tour: OSBCU President Joe Tigani and other members of the bargaining committee will be visiting communities around the province in September and October.  Please register and attend! Come meet the OSBCU central bargaining committee and bring your questions. Register here: OSBCU 2026 Fall RoadShow  

4) On Saturday, October 24 five rallies for publicly funded education will be happening in cities across the province: London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Toronto and Thunder Bay. This rally is hosted by education unions representing over 255,000 education workers in Ontario. Busses will be available to OSBCU members and their families. A strong turnout shows the government that education workers are united, engaged and ready to stand up for the investments in schools that we deserve! More information coming soon.

 

In Solidarity,

Your OSBCU Bargaining Committee

To update your contact information for bargaining updates
click here!

Négociations collectives centrales du CSCSO 2026

Mise à jour n° 9 – 20 septembre 2026

Les dirigeant(e)s des sections locales du SCFP-CSCSO représentant les travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation votent en faveur de la tenue d’un vote de grève
Cette fin de semaine, les dirigeant(e)s des sections locales du SCFP des conseils scolaires de toute la province se sont réunis pour discuter des négociations centrales du CSCSO, des propositions de négociation et pour aller de l’avant avec la tenue d’un vote de grève cet automne.

Le vote de grève pour l’ensemble des 57 000 travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation du SCFP-CSCSO se tiendra par voie électronique du 4 au 18 novembre. De plus amples renseignements sur les modalités du vote de grève ainsi que sur l’indemnité de grève et les avantages sociaux en cas de grève seront fournis au cours des prochaines semaines. Le Comité de négociation central du CSCSO demande à tous les membres de voter « oui » à la grève si cela s’avère nécessaire. Nous devons montrer au gouvernement que nous restons fermes et unis derrière nos propositions de négociation afin d’obtenir davantage de personnel, une meilleure sécurité d’emploi, de meilleurs salaires et avantages sociaux, de meilleurs emplois et un meilleur système d’éducation pour les élèves, les parents et nos communautés.

Le SCFP-CSCSO continuera de tenir ses membres informés de l’évolution des négociations au moyen de mises à jour, de webinaires destinés aux membres (le prochain aura lieu le 23 septembre) et de réunions organisées partout dans la province cet automne (voir ci-dessous pour plus de renseignements).

Le point sur le processus devant la Commission des relations de travail de l’Ontario (CRTO)

Le jeudi 17 septembre, les représentants juridiques du SCFP et d’autres syndicats de travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation et d’enseignants se sont réunis à la CRTO pour fixer les dates d’audience. Pour résumer, le CSCSO et d’autres syndicats de l’éducation s’opposent à la proposition du gouvernement Ford de transférer à la table de négociation centrale des questions qui relèvent habituellement de la négociation locale, telles que les congés syndicaux locaux, les dispositions locales relatives aux mises à pied et aux rappels, ainsi que les congés sans solde, entre autres. Votre comité de négociation du CSCSO s’oppose à la tentative du gouvernement de centraliser davantage le contrôle sur des questions de négociation qui ont traditionnellement été négociées au niveau local. Il s’agit là encore d’une nouvelle tentative de prise de pouvoir par le gouvernement conservateur de Ford visant à retirer le contrôle direct aux travailleuses et travailleurs et à saper la négociation collective, rendant ainsi plus difficile la négociation de réelles améliorations sur les enjeux auxquels les travailleuses et travailleurs et les élèves sont confrontés au quotidien.

Notre objectif est de régler ce dossier devant la Commission des relations de travail de l’Ontario (CRTO) le plus rapidement possible. Les dates d’audience pour tous les syndicats de travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation, y compris le SCFP-CSCSO, sont fixées aux 6, 21, 27 et 28 octobre. Les audiences pour tous les syndicats seront terminées d’ici le 30 octobre.

La Commission a accepté de rendre sa décision rapidement; nous nous attendons donc à la recevoir au début de novembre. Nous pourrons échanger des propositions avec le gouvernement et les conseils scolaires dans les 15 jours suivant la réception de cette décision; nous prévoyons donc de retourner à la table de négociation à peu près au moment où nous aurons les résultats de notre vote de grève.

Et c’est pourquoi nous avons besoin d’un mandat de grève solide, avec une participation maximale des membres! Le comité de négociation doit rencontrer l’employeur dès le premier jour des pourparlers avec la certitude que l’ensemble des 57 000 membres appuient les revendications visant une augmentation des effectifs, une meilleure sécurité d’emploi, de meilleurs salaires et avantages sociaux.

Votre convention collective reste en vigueur!

Bien que notre convention collective ait expiré à la fin du mois d’août, elle reste en vigueur et les sections locales doivent continuer à faire respecter les conventions collectives! Les protections prévues dans votre convention collective restent pleinement en vigueur pendant que nous poursuivons les négociations.

Il y a quatre occasions de vous mobiliser et de lutter pour obtenir davantage de financement et de personnel :

1) Joignez-vous à nous le mercredi 23 septembre lors du webinaire du CSCSO intitulé « Mobilisation en faveur de l’éducation publique », où nous partagerons plus d’informations issues de notre réunion des dirigeant(e)s, discuterons ouvertement des enjeux qui suscitent parfois des conflits entre les membres : les congés de maladie, l’échelle salariale et l’égalité salariale pour un travail égal.

Nous parlerons également de la tournée de sensibilisation du CSCSO, qui débutera à la dernière semaine de septembre et se terminera la première semaine de novembre. Nous vous expliquerons comment les membres peuvent participer aux rassemblements du 24 octobre.

Inscrivez-vous ici : Inscription au webinaire – Zoom

 

2) Le lundi 5 octobre, le CSCSO organise une campagne d’appels téléphoniques de 18 h à 19 h. C’est un moyen simple de mener ensemble une action politique. Joignez-vous à la réunion Zoom pour une brève formation et pour obtenir le texte à suivre afin d’appeler Doug Ford, Paul Calandra et les députés provinciaux du Parti conservateur de votre région. Aucune expérience requise! L’objectif est de faire pression sur Ford, Calandra et les députés provinciaux du Parti conservateur. Cliquez sur ce lien pour vous inscrire.

3) Tournée provinciale du CSCSO : Le président du CSCSO, Joe Tigani, et d’autres membres du comité de négociation se rendront dans différentes communautés de la province en septembre et en octobre. Inscrivez-vous et venez y assister! Venez rencontrer le comité de négociation central et apportez vos questions. Inscrivez-vous ici : Tournée d’automne 2026 du CSCSO

4) Le samedi 24 octobre, cinq rassemblements en faveur de l’éducation publique auront lieu dans différentes villes de la province : London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Toronto et Thunder Bay. Ces rassemblements sont organisés par les syndicats de l’éducation représentant plus de 255 000 travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation en Ontario. Des autobus seront mis à la disposition des membres du CSCSO et de leurs familles. Une forte participation montrera au gouvernement que les travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation sont unis, mobilisés et prêts à se battre pour obtenir les investissements dans les écoles que nous méritons! Plus d’informations à venir.

En solidarité,
Votre comité de négociation du CSCSO

Pour mettre à jour vos coordonnées afin de recevoir les mises à jour sur les négociations, cliquez ici!  Inscrivez-vous pour recevoir les mises à jour !

OSBCU 2026 Central Bargaining Update #8 – September 10, 2026

 

OSBCU 2026 Central Bargaining
Update #8 – September 10, 2026

(Version française ci-après)

 

Good afternoon,

As reported in our last bargaining update, mediation at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) did not result in an agreement on the scope of central bargaining.

The next step at the OLRB is a case management meeting scheduled for September 17. We expect the dates for the full hearing to be scheduled shortly after the case management meeting. The full hearing will determine which bargaining issues will be negotiated centrally and which will remain local. We will continue to keep members updated as more information becomes available.

In the meantime, our organizing and mobilizing work continues.

On Wednesday, September 16, more than 275,000 members from all of Ontario’s education unions will come together for a province-wide workplace day of action. Members are encouraged to wear purple and red, take group photos with their coworkers, and show that education workers are united in the fight to improve working and learning conditions in Ontario’s schools.

Our schools are understaffed, workloads are increasing, and hundreds of education worker positions have been cut across the province. We are taking action because students and education workers deserve better.

Dates to Remember:
  • September 16: All-education-union province-wide day of action — wear purple and red
  • September 17: OLRB case management meeting
  • Wear purple every Wednesday
  • September 18–20: OSBCU Leadership Conference
  • September–October: OSBCU meetings across the province — more information to come
  • October 24: Multi-union regional education rallies — times, locations, and bus registration information coming soon

We are 57,000 education workers strong. Together, we will continue building the power needed to win more staff, better job security, improved wages and benefits, and better schools for all.

To update your contact information for bargaining updates
click here!

Négociations collectives centrales du CSCSO 2026

Mise à jour n° 8 – 10 septembre 2026

Bonsoir,

Comme nous l’avons indiqué dans notre dernière mise à jour, la médiation menée devant la Commission des relations de travail de l’Ontario (CRTO) n’a pas abouti à un accord sur le champ de la négociation centrale.

La prochaine étape devant le CRTO est une conférence préparatoire à l’audience prévue pour le 17 septembre. Nous nous attendons à ce que les dates de l’audience soient fixées peu après cette conférence. L’audience complète permettra de déterminer quelles questions seront négociées au niveau central et lesquelles resteront au niveau local. Nous continuerons à tenir les membres informés dès que nous aurons plus d’informations.

Entre-temps, notre travail d’organisation et de mobilisation se poursuit.

Le mercredi 16 septembre, plus de 275 000 membres de tous les syndicats de l’éducation de l’Ontario se rassembleront pour une journée d’action provinciale en milieu de travail. Les membres sont encouragés à porter du mauve et du rouge, à prendre des photos de groupe avec leurs collègues afin de démontrer que les travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation sont unis dans la lutte pour améliorer les conditions de travail et d’apprentissage dans les écoles de l’Ontario.

Nos écoles manquent de personnel, les charges de travail augmentent et des centaines de postes de travailleurs de l’éducation ont été supprimés dans toute la province. Nous agissons parce que les élèves et les travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation méritent mieux.

Dates à retenir :
  • 16 septembre : Journée d’action provinciale de tous les syndicats de l’éducation — portez du mauve et du rouge
  • 17 septembre : Conférence préparatoire à l’audience devant la Commission des relations de travail de l’Ontario (OLRB)
  • Portez du mauve tous les mercredis
  • 18 au 20 septembre : Réunion des dirigeant(e)s du CSCSO
  • Septembre–octobre : réunions du CSCSO partout dans la province — Plus d’informations à venir
  • 24 octobre : rassemblements régionaux multisynicaux pour l’éducation — horaires, lieux et informations sur l’inscription aux autobus à venir

Nous sommes 57 000 travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation. Ensemble, nous continuerons de renforcer le pouvoir nécessaire pour obtenir plus de personnel, une meilleure sécurité d’emploi, de meilleurs salaires et avantages sociaux, ainsi que de meilleures écoles pour tous.

Pour mettre à jour vos coordonnées afin de recevoir les dernières nouvelles sur les négociations, Inscrivez-vous pour recevoir les mises à jour !

OSBCU 2026 Central Bargaining Update #7 – September 2, 2026

 

Good afternoon,

The CUPE-OSBCU bargaining committee had mediation at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) today. We met with representatives from the Ministry of Education (the Crown) and the Council of Employers’ Associations (CEA), the body that represents school boards in central negotiations.

The purpose of the mediation was to try to get agreement on the scope of central bargaining. It was clear very early in the day that there was no way that we could reach agreement on central scope. The bargaining committee was not willing to agree to allow the government to further centralize control on bargaining issues that have traditionally been negotiated locally.

Since mediation did not lead to an agreement on scope of central bargaining, the next steps are to move to a full hearing at the OLRB where the board will decide which of these issues will be central and which will be local. We expect that the decision should be issued this fall. We will keep you posted on any upcoming dates at the labour relations board, and any decisions that are made.

Once we have a decision on what will be negotiated centrally, the bargaining committee will present its proposals to the Crown and the CEA, and start negotiations on the issues that matter to all education workers, students, parents and our communities.

In the meantime, our organizing work continues. We continue to build power in our workplaces and our communities to support the demands for more staff, better job security, improvements to wages and benefits, and supports for better schools for all.
Dates to Remember:
  • Wear Purple every Wednesday
  • September 16: all education union province-wide day of action – wear Purple and Red to show solidarity and demonstrate workers in all unions are united
  • September 18-20: OSBCU leadership conference
  • September – October: OSBCU meetings across the province – More Info to Come
  • October 24: Education Rallies – times, locations and bus registration coming soon

We are 57,000 education workers strong, and we are just getting started. Thank you for all that you do for our students and community — now let’s go get ready.

To update your contact information for bargaining updates
click here!

Négociations collectives centrales du CSCSO 2026

Mise à jour n° 7 – 2 septembre 2026
Bonsoir,

Le comité de négociation du SCFP-CSCSO a participé aujourd’hui à une séance de médiation devant la Commission des relations de travail de l’Ontario (CRTO). Nous avons rencontré des représentants du ministère de l’Éducation (la Couronne) et du Conseil des associations d’employeurs (CAE), l’organisme qui représente les conseils scolaires dans les négociations centrales.

La médiation avait pour but de tenter de parvenir à une entente sur le champ de la négociation centrale. Il est apparu très tôt dans la journée qu’il était tout simplement impossible de s’entendre sur ce point. Le comité de négociation n’était pas disposé à accepter que le gouvernement centralise davantage le contrôle sur des questions qui, traditionnellement, sont négociées localement.

La médiation n’ayant pas abouti à une entente sur le champ de la négociation centrale, la prochaine étape consiste à passer à une audience complète devant la Commission des relations de travail de l’Ontario (CRTO), où la Commission décidera quelles questions relèveront des négociations centrales et lesquelles relèveront des négociations locales. Nous nous attendons à ce que la décision soit rendue cet automne. Nous vous tiendrons au courant des dates à venir à la Commission des relations de travail, ainsi que des décisions qui seront prises.

Une fois que nous aurons une décision sur le champ de la négociation centrale, le comité de négociation présentera ses propositions à la Couronne et au CAE, puis entamera les négociations sur les enjeux qui comptent pour tous les travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation, les élèves, les parents et les communautés scolaires.

Entre-temps, notre travail de mobilisation se poursuit. Nous continuons de renforcer notre influence sur nos lieux de travail et au sein de nos communautés afin d’appuyer les revendications visant davantage de personnel, une meilleure sécurité d’emploi, l’amélioration des salaires et des avantages sociaux, ainsi que des mesures pour de meilleures écoles pour tous.
Dates à retenir :
  • Portez du mauve tous les mercredis
  • 16 septembre : journée d’action provinciale de tous les syndicats de l’éducation – portez du mauve et du rouge pour montrer votre solidarité et démontrer que les travailleuses et travailleurs de tous les syndicats sont unis
  • 18-20 septembre : conférence des dirigeants du CSCSO
  • Septembre – octobre : réunions du CSCSO partout dans la province – Plus d’informations à venir
  • 24 octobre : rassemblements pour l’éducation – horaires, lieux et inscription pour les autobus à venir

Nous sommes 57 000 travailleuses et travailleurs de l’éducation, et ce n’est qu’un début. Merci pour tout ce que vous faites pour nos élèves et notre communauté — maintenant, préparons-nous.

Calandra’s bargaining bluster falls flat against dire challenges in publicly funded education

Joint Statement – 2026-09-01

For Immediate Release: September 1, 2026

TORONTO, ON – L’Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), Ontario School Board Council of Unions (CUPE-OSBCU), Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), and Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) presidents issued the following statement:

“Despite Minister of Education Paul Calandra’s many assurances that we would have collective agreements in place before Labour Day, teachers and education workers across Ontario will be welcoming students back next week without new contracts.

In March, we urged the government to allow bargaining to begin early. Instead of engaging in negotiations in early spring and showing a real commitment to stability and improving student success and well-being, Minister Calandra dismissed our call and confidently announced he was ‘optimistic’ deals could be reached before Labour Day. He was wrong. His repeated misplaced optimism makes painfully clear just how out of touch he is with the state of Ontario’s publicly funded education system and the complexity of the bargaining process.

The Ford Conservatives’ push to centralize decision‑making at the provincial level during this round of bargaining is not surprising. Alongside the employer bargaining agencies, the government has attempted to push long‑standing local bargaining items into central negotiations, despite our clear opposition. These include core working conditions, such as: staffing timelines related to transfer, surplus, and redundancy; and local professional development funding.

Moving these items to the central table would: strip local autonomy; weaken the ability of our locals to address the specific needs and circumstances of our members, students, and school communities; and further concentrate power at Queen’s Park at a time when publicly funded education is already under immense strain.

Minister Calandra has claimed that one of the hallmarks of the Ford government’s time in office is ‘relative peace’ with teachers’ unions and unions representing education workers. He’s wrong, again. The last round of bargaining was drawn out, contentious, and forced CUPE-OSBCU members to defend their rights in a province-wide strike. Hardly the ‘relative peace’ he described.

Ontario’s more than 275,000 teachers and education workers deserve a government that respects our expertise and experience, as well as the bargaining process, not one that undervalues our work or wastes public dollars on attack ads. We deserve an education minister who understands the dire realities of publicly funded education and is willing to engage in good‑faith negotiations to address them.”

Martha Hradowy, OSSTF/FEESO President
René Jansen in de Wal, OECTA President
Gabrielle Lemieux, AEFO President
David Mastin, ETFO President
Joe Tigani, CUPE-OSBCU President

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AEFO—Marianne Raina at 613-218-3702 or mraina@aefo.on.ca
CUPE-OSBCU—Chitra Kunnath at 416-317-0285 or ckunnath@cupe.ca
ETFO—Carla Pereira at 416-962-3836 ext. 2332 or cpereira@etfo.org
OECTA—Michelle Despault at 416-925-2493 ext. 509 or m.despault@catholicteachers.ca
OSSTF/FEESO—Caitlin Reid at 416-576-8346 or caitlin.reid@osstf.ca