From June 19 to 20 of 2025, part-time and sessional delegates from across the province attended the Pre-Bargaining Conference, where your bargaining team was elected.
Patricia Tuff, L352/562, Chair – she/her/they
Patricia is a Child and Youth Care Practitioner and Social Worker who brings compassion, collaboration and a deep commitment to community well-being. She is invested in supporting her colleagues and contributing to a fair and inclusive workplace as newly appointed part-time/sessional Unit Steward in Local 562 (Humber). Since 2017, Patricia’s teaching and curriculum development spans across several institutions, including Fleming, GBC, Sheridan, Centennial and currently at Humber/Guelph-Humber and Toronto Metropolitan University in the Faculty of Community Services.
With prior experience as a steward and bargaining team member in OPSEU/SEFPO’s Mental Health and Addictions Division, Patricia brings both advocacy and empathy to her union work. As an educator, steward and practitioner, she is committed to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and social and labour justice in every space she is part of.
Greg Dickson, L420, secretary – he/him/they
Greg Dickson came to Loyalist College in 2017 from public and private scientific research & technology sectors and teaches across a dozen departments at Loyalist College – primarily in STEM & technical communications. Greg also typically works as an academic coordinator, lab tech/coordinator, and curriculum developer for multiple departments, and is now also a Loyalist graduate after completing his Facilitator of Adult Learning Certificate.
As an engaged local union member (L420/421) and Part-time/Sessional steward, he regularly advocates for the rights and compensation of all non-full-time OPSEU/SEFPO unionized employees at his college. Greg was also one of the provincial Partial-Load representatives on the recent CAAT-A Full-time & Partial Load Bargaining Advisory Committee. Actively serving on multiple local and national committees, Greg regularly focuses on cultivating external partnerships to facilitate experiential learning, applied projects, and bursary awards for his students whilst helping to meet the needs of industry and community partners. You can often find Greg running community projects & playing benefit concerts throughout Hastings & Prince Edward Counties.
Lisa Macdonald, L417 – she/her
Lisa Macdonald is part-time faculty at St. Lawrence College in Kingston and a member of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 417. She brings experience in international business and organizational development, change management, and equity, diversity and inclusion. Her work is grounded in the values of service, fairness, respect, inclusion, and lifelong learning.
Lisa is currently pursuing doctoral research examining how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, are changing workforce planning, recruitment, and the future of work. Her research has strengthened her commitment to worker voice, meaningful participation, fairness, and dignity as workplaces navigate technological and organizational change.
As an educator and union member, Lisa understands the realities of part-time and sessional faculty, including changing workloads and contract uncertainty. She is committed to building fair, respectful, and sustainable working conditions, supporting students and colleagues, and ensuring that workers have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their work and their futures.
Sarah Gayer, L560
Sarah is a Human Resources Consultant and Mediator with over 20 years of experience teaching in the college and university system. Throughout her career, she has taught at leading educational institutions including York University, Humber College, Sheridan College, Seneca College, and George Brown College.
With a deep commitment to fairness and inclusion, Sarah has consistently advocated for equality, diversity, and equity in every workplace she has been part of. Now serving on the bargaining team representing Local 560, she brings her passion for ensuring that members receive the support and protections they deserve.
As a mediator, Sarah believes in collaboration and strives to achieve resolutions that respect all parties and foster mutual understanding.
William Payne, L556 – he/they
William J. Payne has taught at George Brown College in the School of Social and Community Services and in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences since 2010, is an active rank-and-file member of OPSEU Local 556, and serves as one of the local’s trustees. William has also taught in the Toronto District School Board and at York University, worked at the Centre for Refugee Studies and the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean, and served as a human rights advocate in Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and Palestine. William holds a PhD in Critical Human Geography from York University.
Natalia Komorowsky, L558 – she/her/they
Natalia is a nursing educator and a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. She has served as an instructor, professor, and course lead across multiple nursing programs, with 15 years of teaching experience at Centennial College. She is also currently teaching at Humber Polytechnic, and has previously taught at George Brown College. Natalia also brings nearly two decades of nursing experience to her work as an educator and advocate.
Natalia is a committed OPSEU member and a fierce advocate for worker equity. She firmly believes in the protection of workers’ rights and has been newly elected as the Lead Steward for the Part-Time and Sessional Division at Local 558. Her work as an educator and healthcare professional has given her firsthand insight into the realities of precarious work, workload inequities, and underfunding across the public sector. These experiences reinforce Natalia’s belief in collective action and the necessity of strong, member-driven engagement and bargaining.
Natalia brings to the team strong skills in advocacy, critical analysis, communication, and collaboration. Grounded in her identity as an educator and nurse – she is committed to listening and advancing fair wages, job security, equitable working conditions and respect for all.
Mirna Iskandar – she/her/elle
Mirna is a Registered Nurse and nursing educator with over 18 years of experience across public health, clinical practice, and post-secondary education. She holds a Master of Education in Adult Education and Community Development, which informs her commitment to inclusive practice, community engagement, leadership, and lifelong learning.
She currently teaches at Sheridan College and Conestoga College, and has previously taught at Centennial College, George Brown College, and Humber College, bringing a caring, compassionate, and deeply human approach to her work. As a nurse and educator, her practice is grounded in strong ethical principles, with a focus on fairness, justice, respect, and dignity in all professional spaces.
Prior to her academic roles, she worked at Toronto Public Health, where she led community health initiatives, supported interdisciplinary teams, and contributed to program development and staff mentorship.
In addition to being a member of the bargaining team, Mirna also serves as Chair of the Divisional Executive for Part-Time and Sessional Faculty and a steward in her college. Having worked extensively in part-time roles across institutions, she understands firsthand the impact of precarity, workload inequities, and lack of job security on faculty. She is a committed advocate for equitable working conditions, transparency, and respect in the workplace.
Grounded in integrity, collaboration, and accountability, she is dedicated to representing members and advancing fairness and justice through collective action.
In her spare time, Mirna enjoys long walks in nature, music, writing poetry, discovering new places, and reading.
Martin Lee, L415, advisor – he/him
Dr Martin Lee is the Second Vice-President of OPSEU Local 415 at Algonquin College. In his teaching role, Martin is a professor of Biochemistry, a former academic coordinator, and active researcher in the field of applied Physical Biochemistry, including bioinformatics, metabolomics, one carbon metabolism, and molecular modelling of enzyme active sites.
In OPSEU at a provincial level, he was on the Workload Task Force, resulting in the world’s largest cohesive study of faculty workload. This then led to his involvement in the Ontario College Academic Bargaining team for 2024/5. His union work focuses on building the data which drives decisions and tries to bring an equity lens to the voice of the membership, often supporting these arguments with the data needed to formulate novel approaches. He has presented the topic of what he calls ‘data-weaving’: the process of taking any and all sets of information that a local has at hand, and using it to better understand large union sets, including those with multiple sites, multiple job classifications, or subgroups.
Martin joins the bargaining team in an advisory capacity, hoping to ensure that part-time and sessional faculty get the recognition for the work that keeps the colleges afloat!
Pearline Lung, L562, advisor – she/her
Pearline is the current Chair of the Full-Time College Faculty Divisional Executive and a professor in the Academic Upgrading program at Humber Polytechnic. She also serves as Treasurer for OPSEU Local 562 – Humber Faculty Union.
With nearly 20 years of experience in Ontario’s college system, Pearline is a dedicated educator and lifelong learner committed to student success and faculty advocacy. She holds a BASc in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto specializing in Biomedical Engineering, a MASc in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University specializing in biomaterials, and is an Ontario Certified Teacher through OISE/UT.
Pearline joins the bargaining team in an advisory capacity, bringing her extensive knowledge of the college system along with strong skills in data analysis, problem solving, and strategic reasoning.