Constitutional Amendments – Section H Convention 2026

Convention Constitution Committee

Terms of Reference

In accordance with Article 13.9.3, the Executive Committee of the Union has provided the following specific guidelines for the operations of the Constitution Committee:

This Committee shall:

1. Meet before the opening of the Convention to consider all amendments duly submitted in accordance with Article 13.8 of the Constitution.
2. Omit from the convention manual those amendments that are submitted contrary to Article 13.8, namely late amendments and those submitted without the required accompaniment of signed minutes of the meeting at which they were adopted. Such minutes must contain evidence that a quorum was present and that each amendment was presented and voted upon separately.
3. Have the authority to combine identical or similar constitutional amendments, and those having the same general intent or those relating to the same subject, and to present composite, substitute or amended constitutional amendments to the Convention.
4. In moving adoption of constitutional amendments, make recommendations for or against adoption, or for referral, or make no recommendations.
5. Have the authority to give reasons for its recommendations, either orally or in the form of introductory (“Whereas”) clauses, which may not have been included in the original submission.
6. At its first appearance (report) before the Convention, present a timetable and list of priorities for all constitutional amendments.
7. Deal promptly and in accordance with the sense of the Convention with all referrals “with instruction” back to the Committee and treat such referrals as a matter of priority.

The Committee shall also have the authority to interpret and translate a generally-stated amendment into precise constitutional amendments and to introduce related changes required by a given amendment.

The Constitution Committee is empowered to call any member of the Executive Board before it to provide whatever information s/he may have that is relevant to a particular constitutional amendment. The Committee should also endeavour to clarify constitutional amendments, if necessary, by asking representatives of the body submitting the amendments to come before the Committee and explain the intent. It is to be noted that such meetings are for clarification purposes only, not debate or argument.

In its function of combining, clarifying, ordering, moving and explaining proposed amendments the Committee should bear in mind at all times that its purpose is to expedite the orderly transaction of the Convention’s business and that, as a Committee of delegates, it is answerable to and the servant of the Convention. As such, the Committee must take care to be guided by the wishes of the Convention. To expedite the printing of a revised Constitution, the Committee is directed to prepare a report for the President showing the disposition of all amendments dealt with by the Convention. This report should be in the hands of the President within 30 days of the adjournment of the Convention.

2026 Constitution Committee

Proposed Constitutional Amendmends

H01 Delegates – Funding Alternates

• Article 13 CONVENTIONS

(Submitted by Local 743; Thunder Bay and District Area Council )

WHEREAS the annual Convention is OPSEU/SEFPO’s largest gathering and highest ranking authority, colloquially known as the space where the business of the Union is conducted, and

WHEREAS Article 13 CONVENTIONS states:

Locals with up to 150 members are entitled to 1 delegate, and Only alternate delegates up to the number of delegates to which a local is entitled may attend Convention, and All Convention expenses of alternate delegates and observers shall be borne by the Local, and The Union Headquarters shall be responsible for all actual and reasonable expenses of the Convention, including the costs such as lost time, travel, and meals and accommodation, of delegates’ attendance, and

WHEREAS the participation of alternate delegates ensures democratic participation is preserved in the event that a delegate needs to leave the floor due to extenuating circumstances, and

WHEREAS there are no shortcuts to OPSEU/SEFPO’s Mission of building public service worker power, participation of alternate delegates supports workers within and across sectors, divisions, locals, and geographies to connect face-to-face and aligns with the Strategic Goals of increasing meaningful member participation and removing barriers to members becoming leaders at every level of the Union,

WHEREAS smaller locals have fewer members and therefore lower dues rebates, lower Local Time-Off (80/20) Fund entitlements, and tighter budgets, and

WHEREAS smaller locals, especially those in rural, remote, and/or Northern areas face financial and logistical barriers to equitable participation of alternates at Convention, such as travel time and travel costs,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT for Locals with up to 150 members, actual and reasonable expenses of alternates, including lost time, travel, and meals and accommodations, will be shared by Union Headquarters and the Local, with Union Headquarters responsible for 80%, and the Local responsible for 20%.

H02 Occupying Excluded Positions

• Article 6 MEMBERSHIP

(Submitted by Executive Board )

WHEREAS part-time faculty at Ontario’s community colleges are now OPSEU/SEFPO members; and

WHEREAS it has come to our attention that this has created a situation where managers and other excluded staff of the colleges may also be members of the OPSEU/SEFPO part-time faculty bargaining unit; and

WHEREAS it is possible that this same situation may occur in other bargaining units represented by OPSEU/SEFPO;

THEREFORE be it resolved that the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board submit the following constitutional amendment to the Constitution Committee for consideration by the 2026 OPSEU/SEFPO Convention:

6.8.3 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, any Member who concurrently holds a management or excluded position outside their OPSEU/SEFPO bargaining unit, with the same employer as their bargaining unit, shall be ineligible to seek, be elected to, or hold any Union office or function.

H03 Picket Lines

• Article 31 PICKET LINES

(Submitted by Local 673 )

WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO has the interests and well-being of its members at heart;

WHEREAS all OPSEU/SEFPO members want to support one another during strikes or lockouts, and members of the same bargaining unit have a responsibility to maintain solidarity, especially in the event of a legal strike or lockout;

WHEREAS there are now four separate divisions within the CAAT sector, meaning there are four separate bargaining units with different collective agreements expiring at different times; (*It is understood that the first collective agreement for the CAAT-A Part-Time and Limited-Term Division has not yet been drafted, but that it will be concluded shortly);

WHEREAS these four separate divisions within the same sector work for the same employer and, often, in the same buildings and facilities as their colleagues; Whereas several of these members hold different positions in more than one of these different bargaining units (for example, in a full-time support staff position and in a part-time school staff position), which means that they find themselves in precarious employment situations;

WHEREAS Article 31 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution specifies that “no OPSEU/SEFPO member shall violate picket lines or perform the duties of another member of the bargaining unit during a strike or lockout”

WHEREAS this language does not take into account a member’s obligation to continue performing their work while there is a strike or lockout in a bargaining unit other than their own;

WHEREAS “not violating picket lines” in a bargaining unit other than one’s own could constitute going on strike illegal;

WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO would not require a member to place themselves in a situation that could jeopardize their own employment in an “illegal” strike;

It is therefore resolved that the language in Article 31 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution be amended to better reflect the current realities described above, so as not to require

its members to jeopardize their own employment during a strike or lockout that is not theirs, and not to confuse solidarity with the legal obligations of their work;

It is also resolved that the language in Article 31 the constitution of OPSEU/SEFPO is amended to change from “by a collective agreement to provide essential or emergency services” to “by any collective agreement”, in order to better reflect the realities of its members and to achieve coherence and protection of members, and not the weakening of picket lines.

H04 Sanctions

• Article 6 MEMBERSHIP
• Article 7 MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS
• Article 14 ELECTION AND REMOVAL OF EXECUTIVE BOARD Article 16 EXECUTIVE BOARD
• Article 30 STRIKEBREAKING

(Submitted by Executive Board )

Be it resolved

Article 6 MEMBERSHIP

Every article not listed remains unchanged

6.3 A Member shall remain in good standing provided they are: Not more than three months in arrears in payment of dues;

1. Gainfully employed in a bargaining unit for which the Union holds or seeks recognized bargaining rights; and
2. Not suspended or expelled from membership in good standing by decision of the Executive Board under Article 7.4. penalized by suspension or expulsion following a conviction under Article 30 of the Constitution; and
3. Not penalized by suspension or expulsion following conviction of a breach of the Union’s harassment and discrimination or personal harassment policy, provided that in accordance with any applicable laws, no such penalty shall require the employer to discharge such Member from employment.
4. Not penalized by suspension under Art. 16.10 of the Constitution.
5. Not penalized by failure to step down from an acting management or acting excluded management position under Article 6.8.2.

However, failure to meet the requirements of (a) or (b) above shall not disqualify Members who are absent from their regular place of employment on leave of absence, paid or unpaid

6.8.2 Any mMember who is in a temporary management or temporary excluded management position shall return to their home position when required, under authority of the President, to do so. If they fail to step down, they shall be ineligible to seek or hold any Union office or function.

Article 7 MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS

Every article not listed remains unchanged

• All mMembers and Retired Members shall comply with may be removed from office and/or barred from running for office for a specified term by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board after a finding of a breach of the Union’s harassment and discrimination and or personal harassment policy (HDPP). Upon release of the final investigation report that details the finding of a breach of OPSEU/SRFPO’s HDPP, the Executive Board will meet within two weeks of the release of the final report and make a determination on the members status.

• A member will be removed from office and will be barred from running for office if they refuse to return to their OPSEU/SEFPO bargaining unit position from an acting management or excluded management position when required, under authority of the President, to do so.

• By two-thirds majority vote, the Executive Board may sanction a Member in good standing or a Retired Member for conduct that is contrary to Articles 6.8.2, 7.2.2, 14.7.3, 16.10, 29.9.4, 30, or for conduct that* the Executive Board determines is a serious breach of this Constitution or the policies of the Union.
  • Sanctions under Article 7.4 may include expulsion from membership, suspension from membership for a specified term, removal from elected or appointed union office, prohibition on seeking union office for a specified term, training programs, and other conditions placed on union membership.
  • Decisions made by the Executive Board under Article 7.4 shall be made in accordance with the principles of procedural fairness, including that affected Members and Retired Members shall receive reasonable notice and an opportunity to make representations to the Executive Board.
  • A Member or Retired Member who is suspended or expelled from membership shall continue to have the right to representation from the Union as required by law and all other rights required by law, but shall be ineligible to seek or hold elected union office, participate in union activities, or access other services from the Union.

Article 14 ELECTION AND REMOVAL OF EXECUTIVE BOARD

Every article not listed remains unchanged

1. The Member-elect shall take the following oath during the Convention immediately following their election or appointment:

“ (I, , promise that I will uphold and obey the Constitution and duly-authorized policies of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union/Syndicat des employés de la fonction publique de l’Ontario, fulfil the obligations and responsibilities of my office to the best of my ability, and promptly deliver to my successor all monies, records, and other property of the Union in my possession at the close of my term in office.)

(I further promise to uphold the Union’s commitment to dismantling anti-Black racism, anti- Indigenous racism and all forms of racism and discrimination, and I will actively participate in all required OPSEU/SEFPO training and/or initiatives.)”

14.7.3     It shall be the duty of all Members of the Executive Board to uphold their oaths and failure to act in accordance with them shall be deemed to be contrary to the Constitution.

14.7.3 14.7.4   Except for the President and First Vice-President/Treasurer, the term of office for Members of the Board shall be from adjournment of the Convention at which they were Members-elect until adjournment of the regular Convention in the next election year. The terms of office for the President and First Vice-President/Treasurer may begin at any time up to 30 days after the adjournment of the Convention at which they were elected and shall end not more than 30 days after the adjournment of the regular Convention in the next election year, but salary shall be paid only for the period from adjournment to adjournment.

Article 16 EXECUTIVE BOARD

Every article not listed remains unchanged

16.10   Members shall not participate or support any campaign to decertify or displace the Union in respect of any bargaining unit it is certified to represent. The Board may suspend from membership in good standing any member who participates in an attempt by another organization to displace the Union from its bargaining rights in respect of any bargaining unit it represents. Such suspension shall take place only as a result of a two-thirds majority roll call vote of the Board after the member has had an opportunity to present their views to the Board.

Article 30 STRIKEBREAKING

Every article not listed remains unchanged

• After giving reasonable written notice of a membership meeting to all Members of a Local for whom the Local has addresses, such notice to specify the purpose of the meeting and naming the Member(s) who is/are accused, and after all attending Members (and especially the accused) have had a reasonable opportunity to present their views, such local membership meeting may vote by a two-thirds majority to declare that a Member of that Local has engaged in strikebreaking, on more than one occasion, during a given legal strike by the Local.

• Where a Local has been placed under trusteeship by reason of the proportion of strikebreakers, a declaration that a Member has engaged in strikebreaking contrary to Article 30.1.1 may only be made by the Region’s EBMs will determine following a two-thirds majority vote after providing affected Members with reasonable notice and an opportunity to make representations. which of the Local’s Members have engaged in strikebreaking. Such determination will only be made after a notice has been sent to all Members of the Local, identifying the members under consideration as strikebreakers, and after all Members have had a reasonable opportunity to present their views. After the matter of strikebreakers has been determined, the trusteeship shall be lifted.

• Any declaration that a Member has engaged in strikebreaking contrary to Article 30.1.1 shall be referred to the Executive Board for consideration under Article 7.4. The assessment for damages to the Union for strikebreaking shall be an amount equal to 100 per cent of the strikebreaker’s wages earned during the strike, to a maximum of $10,000, in consideration of the harm to the Union caused by the strikebreaker’s action.

30.2.2 The strikebreaker will be suspended from membership, removed from any Union office currently held, and the Member’s name will be recorded on a central public registry. These penalties shall remain in effect until the assessment in Art. 30.2.1 has either been paid or collected, if necessary through enforcement in civil court.

• The Member so penalized and/or assessed damages shall have the right to appeal to the Executive Board, which, after hearing all relevant evidence and arguments, shall have the authority to confirm, vary or nullify the penalty and/or forgive or vary the assessed damages, as it may in its discretion decide. After a period of one year from the date of imposition of the assessment set out in Article 30.2.1, and the penalty set out in Article 30.2.2, an individual may apply to their Local for the penalty to be lifted and/or the assessment to be forgiven. The Local may decide to confirm, vary or nullify the penalty and/or forgive or vary the assessed damages at its discretion.

30.3 Any Member who has been designated by statute and/or collective agreement as providing essential or emergency services and who is called to perform such work during a legal strike shall not be subject to any declaration, sanction, charge, damages,or penalty under this Article as long as the Member performs only such essential or emergency duties.

H05 Provincial Committee Delegates 

• Article 19 PROVINCIAL COMMITTEES

(Submitted by : Local 154; Local 415;; Local 566; Greater Toronto Area Council; Kingston Area Council; Ottawa Area Council; Region 1 Area Council; Rideau St Lawrence Area Council (RSLAC); Coalition of Racialized Workers Committee; Indigenous Circle; Provincial Young Workers Committee; Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel)

WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO at the 2022 Convention passed important changes to the OPSEU/SEFPO constitution. These changes recognize the presence and prevalence of systemic racism affecting Black, Racialized and Indigenous members within the Union;

WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution Article 13.4,

Delegate entitlement to conventions shall be as follows: … 4. One member per Region of each of the Article 19 provincial committees shall be entitled to be delegates.;

WHEREAS Article 13.4.4, as it currently reads, contradicts the Terms of Reference for the Coalition of Black and Racialized Workers; Indigenous Circle and Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel which set the number of members of each committee at fourteen members as specified by their Terms of Reference and yet only seven are allowed to attend the convention as delegates. These committees represent the under-represented marginalized and disadvantaged, and historically excluded members of the union and therefore all representatives of these committees should have a voting voice at convention;

WHEREAS all democratically elected delegates of the Coalition of Black and Racialized Workers Committee along with the other Article 19 Provincial Committees are faced with exclusionary policies within Article 13.4,e) from attending Conventions to present their members’ voices and perform the work they were elected to do on behalf of Black and Racialized workers, and the other marginalized and underrepresented members contrary to OPSEU/SEFPO’s pledge to be a more inclusive, diverse and equitable union.

WHEREAS Article 13.3.1. states that

Calculation of delegate entitlement shall be based on membership records at Union Headquarters as of the date of certification, for locals.

WHEREAS, according to the social mapping project final report released in July 2025, racialized members constitute 30% of total OPSEU/SEFPO members, 2SLGBTQIA+ members constitute 26% of total OPSEU/SEFPO member , indigenous members constitute 8% of total OPSEU/SEFPO members;

WHEREAS the CORW requested a cost analyst of the 21 additional delegates to convention from the 1st Vice-President’s office. It was determined based on the 2025 Convention the total amount 2would be $76,470.24 for the additional 21 delegates to attend.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that effective immediately, in order to ensure a democratic representation at convention in consideration of the large geographic locations that delegates represent and the large membership concentration recorded in others, that OPSEU/SEFPO Article 13.4 e) shall be amended to read

All members of each of the Article 19 Provincial Committees shall be entitled to be automatic delegates to OPSEU/SEFPO Convention.

H06 Retired Members Division Delegates

• Article 13 CONVENTION
• Article 21 DIVISIONS

(Submitted by Greater Toronto Area Council)

WHEREAS thousands of retired OPSEU/SEFPO members and activists continue to support and participate in the work of our union, the broader labour movement and our community allies to advance the collective interests of all OPSEU/SEFPO members, working people and our communities; and

WHEREAS Retired Members continue to have an active interest in and are directly affected by political action campaigns, policy decisions and collective bargaining by OPSEU/SEFPO on issues on a wide range of issues including:

• Protecting and expanding public health care, pharmacare, quality social services, and affordable housing
• Building the fight for decent work, good jobs, fair wages and benefits, safe workplaces and climate justice for all workers
• Protecting and expanding the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement
• Ensuring sound governance of our jointly sponsored pension plans, and protecting and enhancing members’ earned pension benefits, post-retirement ensured benefits, and OPSEU/SEFPO’s member discount programs; and

WHEREAS Retired Members represent a powerful and largely untapped resource that can be engaged and mobilized to support OPSEU/SEFPO members and our labour allies during bargaining campaigns, strikes and lockouts, and political action campaigns; and

WHEREAS at OPSEU/SEFPO’s convention, of approximately 1,000 voting delegates, Retired Members are represented only by the seven (7) members of the Retired Members Division’s Executive Committee (the Division’s seven regional chairs); and

WHEREAS increasing Retired Members’ representation at convention will: i) increase awareness of Retired Members’ issues and perspectives among OPSEU/SEFPO’s leaders and membership, and ii) help engage a broader layer of Retired Members in supporting OPSEU/SEFPO’s active members, our work and our strategic objectives;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Articles 13 and 21.3 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution be amended to add a provision that one (1) additional voting delegate will be elected from among the retired members in each of OPSEU/SEFPO’s seven (7) regions each year at a duly constituted meeting of the retired members in their respective regions to be held within 6 months prior to each convention.*

Note: For clarity, under this amendment, the total increase in voting delegates representing Retired Members will be seven (7): 1 additional delegate x 7 regions = 7 additional delegates

H07 Collective Bargaining Sanctions                                  

• Article 7 MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS

(Submitted by Local 110)

WHEREAS collective bargaining is essential to promoting workplace equity and equality; and

WHEREAS the results of collective bargaining have long-lasting implications for OPSEU/SEFPO members; and

WHEREAS collective bargaining requires a level of confidentiality to ensure that the process is not compromised to the detriment of OPSEU/SEFPO members and trade unionism in general; and

WHEREAS there are currently no direct and specific consequences to a bargaining team member who breaks confidentiality or attempts to reap personal gain by the disruption of the bargaining process;

THEREFORE be it resolved that the OPSEU/SEFPO constitution be revised to specifically hold accountable and impose specific and measurable sanctions on elected bargaining team members who willingly and knowingly threaten to or commit a breach of confidentiality, or who attempt to disrupt bargaining for their own benefit.

H08 Regional Vice Presidents Release Time

• Article 16 EXECUTIVE BOARD
• Article 17 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(Submitted by Southwest Area Council)

WHEREAS, OPSEU/SEFPO (the UNION) is one of the largest public sector unions in Canada with upwards of 180,000 members to service across the province of Ontario and,

WHEREAS, the Union has a fiduciary duty to its membership to oversee and be held responsible for all monies and assets held in its trust, with said monies totaling in the millions of dollars and,

WHEREAS, all the assets of the UNION, belonging to the membership, including properties, other physical things, pension funds and investments must be maintained and held whole and,

WHEREAS, the duly elected Regional Vice Presidents as members of the Board of Directors of the UNION are held responsible in their respective duties to ensure the proper management of all the assets of the UNION, and,

WHEREAS, there is currently no provision to have them released from their current employment and booked off to service and keep whole, the membership of the Union,

THEREFORE be it resolved, that all duly elected Regional Vice Presidents be granted immediate release up to full time as requested, with all the necessary funding to do the job they were elected and charged to do, and,

THEREFORE be it further resolved, that the Regional Vice Presidents be given the authority and the full autonomy to act on behalf of their respective Region, as laid out in the constitution and policy manual under the not for profit act, with the full support and cooperation of the Presidents office of the Union.

H09 Submitting Amendments

• Article 13 CONVENTION

(Submitted by Local 4106; Local 679; Kingston Area Council; Orillia Area Council; Southwest Area Council; Sudbury Area Council; Thunder Bay and District Area Council; Hospital Professionals Division; Sector 9 Universities)

WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO values democratic participation and inclusive representation across all levels of the union;

WHEREAS councils composed of members from multiple divisions, MERCS and sector/divisions play a vital role in fostering collaboration, solidarity, and shared advocacy;

WHEREAS the current language of Article 13.8 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution does not explicitly recognize multi-divisional councils, Divex’s, sector executives and MERCS as eligible bodies to submit resolutions or constitutional amendments;

WHEREAS excluding multi-divisional councils, Divex’s and MERCs from submitting resolutions or constitutional amendments may limit the union’s ability to address issues that span sectors, ministries and divisions;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Article 13.8 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution be amended to include

Divisional Councils, Divisional Executives, Sector Executives and Ministry Employee Renewal Committees as recognized entities authorized to submit resolutions and constitutional amendments to Convention;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that resolutions and constitutional amendments submitted by Multi-Divisional Councils, Divisional Executives, Sector Executives and Ministry Employee Renewal Committees shall be attested to by two officers of the Council, Divex, Sector Executive or MERC and submitted in accordance with the timelines and procedures outlined in Article 13.8;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Article 21.4, be amended to recognize Divisional Councils, Divisional Executives, Sector Executives and Ministry Employee Renewal Committees as bodies authorized to submit resolutions and constitutional amendments to Convention through their duly elected delegates at a Council/Sector/Divex or MERC meeting.

H10 Strikebreaking Sanctions 

• Article 30 STRIKEBREAKING

(Submitted by Local 243; Local 351; Local 416; Ottawa Area Council; Rideau St Lawrence Area Council)

WHEREAS anti-union sentiment and employer interference are increasing, undermining union rights and collective action; and

WHEREAS strikebreaking poses a serious threat to the effectiveness of legal strikes and weakens solidarity across OPSEU/SEFPO; and

WHEREAS the current constitution has limited consequences for strikebreakers, and Local are limited in their ability to recoup fines; and

WHEREAS stronger and more consistent consequences would help prevent strikebreaking and reinforce the integrity of OPSEU/SEFPO strike actions

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT OPSEU/SEFPO amend Article 30 of the Constitution to authorize the revocation or suspension of seniority for Members determined to have engaged in strikebreaking.

H11 Strike Fund

• Article 23 STRIKE AND DEFENCE FUNDS

(Submitted by Local 4106; Kingston Area Council; Orillia Area Council; Hospital Professionals Division)

WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO is a fair and transparent union, and shares resources as a way to build strength and solidarity;

WHEREAS all members of OPSEU/SEFPO contribute to the strike fund, which supports bargaining units that have a legal right to strike with funding between a successful strike vote and the start of a strike for lobbying, mobilizing and other necessary expenses for member activities, in accordance with the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution and policy; and

WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO bargaining units that do not have a legal right to strike under applicable statutes also require financial support for collective bargaining, lobbying, organizing, and other expenses prior to interest arbitration,

WHEREAS the Executive Board has already established a policy and procedure for accessing said funds, and

WHEREAS the Executive Board recommends that OPSEU/SEFPO support collective bargaining for members who do not have the legal right to strike in the same manner and with a similar process as it supports members who do have the legal right to strike.

THEREFORE, be it resolved that article 23 be amended as follows:

Add article 23.3 Non-Right to Strike Fund (Renumber the subsequent article) for expenses related to collective bargaining and interest arbitration involving Union members who do not have a legal right to strike. These funds are separate from and have no impact on the General Strike Fund. The monetary contributions to the Non Right to Strike Fund only come from dues of members that do not have the right to strike and not from any members who have the legal right to strike.

H12 Scrutineers

• Article 14 ELECTION AND REMOVAL OF EXECUTIVE BOARD

(Submitted by Local 154; Local 415; Orillia Area Council; Ottawa Area Council; Region 1 Area Council; Rideau St Lawrence Area Council; Coalition of Racialized Workers Committee; Indigenous Circle; Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel;)

WHEREAS elections of officers are one of the highest functions of regional meetings and convention;

WHEREAS transparency of those elections is paramount to foster trust in leadership;

WHEREAS scrutineers have historically been a key component of paper-based ballots which are no longer conducted in favor of electronic based voting;

WHEREAS those scrutineers must have access to the data required to verify the tally of those electronic voting results;

WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution article states that 14.6.2 Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Article 14 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution be modified to include a subsection of the elections process delineating the role of scrutineers, thereby adding

Each nominee for an election may identify one (1) scrutineer who will, in private, be privy to the vote tally broken down by region in the case of convention elections. Scrutineers will be permitted pen and paper but will not be permitted communication devices during the election and shall be segregated until the results of the election are announced. Effective starting 2029

H13 Limited Term Positions

• Article 14 ELECTION AND REMOVAL OF EXECUTIVE BOARD Article 19 PROVINCIAL COMMITTEES
• Article 29 BYLAWS FOR LOCAL UNIONS

(Submitted by Local 365)

WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO is committed to fostering inclusive leadership, equitable opportunities, and sustainable succession planning;

WHEREAS the Union recognizes the importance of leadership renewal to ensure the continued growth, development, and representation of a diverse membership;

WHEREAS the Union affirms that leadership opportunities should be accessible to all members regardless of age, background, or tenure, and that term limits can support broader participation without bias or discrimination;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Article 14 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution be amended to include provisions limiting elected members to a maximum of three (3) consecutive full terms in the same position;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any member who has served three (3) consecutive full terms in the same elected position shall be ineligible to stand for re-election to that same position until at least one full term has passed;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a transitional provision be included to allow members who, as of the date of adoption of this amendment, have already served more than three

(3) consecutive terms in the same position to be eligible for one (1) additional term;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this amendment shall not apply to the role of Steward, recognizing that Stewards serve a critical function in workplace representation and member advocacy, and may continue to serve without restriction on consecutive terms;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that OPSEU/SEFPO encourage committees to establish an advisory role for outgoing elected members who have completed their maximum consecutive terms, in order to support leadership transition, preserve institutional knowledge, and foster mentorship within the Union;

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that OPSEU/SEFPO develop and promote leadership development programs to support succession planning and the growth of diverse voices within the union.

H14 Accessibility Officer

• Article 29 BYLAWS FOR LOCAL UNIONS

(Submitted by Provincial Young Workers Committee; Rainbow Alliance-arc-en-ciel)

Whereas the Local Executive Committee currently includes officers dedicated to essential duties and equity issues, but does not explicitly provide for the support of members requiring workplace accommodations due to injury, illness, or congenitally acquired conditions; and

Whereas ensuring equitable access and full participation in the workplace is a foundational principle for an inclusive and respectful organization;

Whereas members in need of accommodations often face significant barriers accessing support, and a dedicated officer would facilitate timely and effective solutions; and

Whereas the establishment of an Accessibility Officer would enhance the Local’s ability to advocate for a fully accessible workplace environment, benefiting all members regardless of physical or mental health status;

Whereas collaboration between Accessibility Officers and equity officers would strengthen intersectional approaches to inclusion and diversity; and

Whereas providing appropriate training and resources to Accessibility Officers will ensure knowledgeable and effective advocacy on behalf of all members; and Whereas periodic review of accommodation processes and accessibility standards is necessary for continual improvement and organizational growth;

Therefore be it resolved that Section 29.2.1 of the Constitution be amended to require that every Local elects an Accessibility Officer as a member of the Local Executive Committee at the first election opportunity. The Accessibility Officer shall:

• Actively assist members who require accommodations at work due to injury, illness, or apparent and non apparent disabilities;
• Serve as a confidential point of contact for members seeking support and guidance on accommodation needs;
• Members holding this position would be in the LEC and may hold another position in the LEC if desired
• Coordinate with employers and relevant parties to ensure reasonable accommodations are facilitated;
• Advocate in conjunction with Health and Safety reps for the creation and maintenance of a fully accessible workplace environment for all members;
• Receive appropriate and recognized training in accessibility and accommodation processes;
• Funds to be provided by OPSEU/SEFPO Central to cover training costs for this role every three years or when a new accessibility officer is elected.
• Work collaboratively with the designated equity officer if said position exists within local by laws to uphold inclusive practices;
• Participate in regular evaluation of accommodation procedures at the local and workplace accessibility to support ongoing improvement

H15 Word Limits for Resolutions

• Article 13 CONVENTION

(Submitted by Local 665)

Whereas numerous resolutions are submitted annually for consideration at Convention;

Whereas a majority of labour unions have maximum word limits for resolutions; (CUPE – 200 words, PSAC, OSSTF, NUPGE, OFL, CLC – each 150 words)

Whereas in OPSEU/SEFPO, some submitted resolutions are pages long of whereas and therefore statements;

Whereas, often at Convention, resolutions are cumbersome to read and understand as they request multiple actions taking Convention time to be divided and amended;

Therefore be it resolved that each resolution submitted for consideration to OPSEU/SEFPO be limited to a maximum of 250 words, including all whereas and therefore statements.

(this resolution is 100 words)

H16 Alternates for President and First VP

• Article 16 EXECUTIVE BOARD

(Submitted by Local 590)

WHEREAS when an Executive Board Member (EBM) is elected to the position of President or First Vice-President/Treasurer, their duties become primarily provincial in scope, reducing their ability to actively represent their region;

WHEREAS this can leave regions with fewer active EBMs to manage workload, member engagement, and regional responsibilities;

WHEREAS Alternate Executive Board Members are elected by the membership to provide support and representation when needed, and could ensure regions remain fully functional;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Article 16 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution be amended by adding a new section 16.1.1 as follows:

16.1.1 Where an Executive Board Member is elected to the position of President or First Vice-President/Treasurer, the Alternate Executive Board Member for that position shall be activated as a full Executive Board Member for the region for the duration of the term.

The activated Alternate Executive Board Member shall have all rights, responsibilities, and privileges of an Executive Board Member within the region, including participation in all regional activities and meetings, except voting rights at Executive Board Meetings.

This provision is intended to ensure that each region remains fully functional and represented by three active Executive Board Members at all times.Rationale:

This amendment ensures that when an EBM is elevated to a full-time provincial Officer role, the region does not lose active leadership capacity. It allows the Alternate to take on the regional role without altering the constitutional composition of the Board or voting structure at the provincial level

H17 Retired Members Provincial Committee 

• Article 19 Provincial Committees

(Submitted by Southwest Area Council)

WHEREAS thousands of retired OPSEU/SEFPO members continue to support, and

WHEREAS the function of the committee shall be to assist in fulfilling education and support of members with the Regions, to develop and promote programs to encourage retirees to participate in Union activities and increase understanding of union issues,

WHEREAS retired members represent a powerful and largely untapped resource that can be engaged and mobilized to support OPSEU/SEFPO members and their labor allies during bargaining campaigns, strikes and lockouts and political action campaigns, and,

WHEREAS, OPSEU/SEFPO Retirees are currently considered a division under Occupational Division,

WHEREAS, Retirees report to equity unit for financial and staffing oversight, WHEREAS, OPSEU/SEPPO President’s office signs off on Retiree’s by-laws, WHEREAS, The Retiree’s division chairs have not been recognized as a committee,

THEREFORE be it resolved, that article 19.8 of the OPSEU/SEFPO constitution be added so there shall be a Provincial Retirees Committee, composed of the Retired Member Division Chair from each Region, to be elected at the regular (tri)(bi)annual Retirees Regional election meetings.

H18 Elections

• Article 14 ELECTION AND REMOVAL OF EXECUTIVE BOARD

(Submitted by Local 679; Orillia Area Council; Executive Board)

Whereas OPSEU/SEFPO activists routinely contemplate strategies to improve member engagement;

Whereas it’s reasonable that those involved in making decisions would feel more connected to the outcomes of those decisions than those not involved in making them;

Whereas the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution only calls for local Convention delegates to seek direction from the general membership of their local when a dues increase is being proposed [article 20.1];

Whereas among OPSEU/SEFPO’s aims and purposes, as established by the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution, is: “To strengthen, by precept and example, democratic principles and practices both in the Canadian labour union movement and in all manner of institutions, organizations, and government in Canada and internationally” [article 4.1 k)];

Whereas OPSEU/SEFPO has the opportunity to strengthen, by precept and example, its democratic principles and practices by increasing the number of members directly participating in the election of the union’s two highest ranking officers;

Whereas the passing of this constitutional amendment could incentivize the completion of a greater number of membership applications and prompt existing members to more regularly update their contact information; and

Whereas the passing of this constitutional amendment and its successful implementation in 2029 could serve as a model to further expand the rank-and-file membership’s role in decision making.

Therefore be it resolved that the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution, specifically but not limited to article 14.8.1, is amended to permit every OPSEU/SEFPO member in good standing to vote in the elections that determine the OPSEU/SEFPO President and the OPSEU/SEFPO First Vice President/Treasurer

H19 Equity Board Members

• Article 13 Convention
• Article 15 Election and Removal of Executive Board Article 15 Vacancies

(Submitted by Local 130 )

WHEREAS we now have 21 Executive Board Members that are elected in a process defined by the Constitution while the other seven (7) Equity Board representatives are elected in a process that is determine by terms of reference outside the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution; and,

WHEREAS Article 11 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution defines the structure of the union and gives ALL members of OPSEU/SEFPO a voice through their local; and,

WHEREAS the Constitutional Amendment of 2023 that created the seven (7) Equity Board seats essentially silenced all locals within the union and removed their ability to elect 25% of their Executive Board; and,

WHEREAS the Not For Profit Corporations Act of Ontario does permit the appointment of additional Executive Board members, OSPEU/SEFPOs new structure flies in the face of the legislation which also forbids a two-tiered Executive Board; and,

WHEREAS the Terms of Reference outlining the electoral process for the Equity Board seats can be amended by the Executive Board with no say by the locals; and,

WHEREAS there are many flaws to the electoral process to select the Equity Board seat representatives; such as, limiting the number of members who can vote, requiring members to disclose that they belong to the equity group they wish to vote for; the potential for disproportional representation by region/sectors or locals, among other things.

THEREFORE be it resolved that Article 14 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution be amended to remove the appointment of the seven (7) Equity Board representative from the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board; and,

Be it further resolved that the Constitutional Amendment take place immediately at the close of the 2026 Convention.

H20 Strikebreaking Sanctions

• Article 30 Strikebreaking

(Submitted by Thunder Bay and District Area Council)

WHEREAS scabbing is viewed as a fundamental betrayal to fellow workers

WHEREAS scabs benefit from the new contract without sharing the strike’s costs,

WHEREAS emphasizing unity and shared responsibility is one of the most important aspects of striking against an employer.

WHEREAS Union members who crossed the line should face automatic disciplinary action

WHEREAS workers who scab signal that they are not honourable, not reliable, self-serving and willing to profit on other’s troubles

WHEREAS all union members benefit from those that make the sacrifice and withdraw their labour during a strike.

WHEREAS it’s unacceptable to expect union benefits and representation when only your coworkers make a sacrifice.

WHEREAS not taking action against scabs sends a clear message that the trade union movement is irrelevant

THEREFORE, be it resolved that article 30 of the OPSEU Constitution be changed as follows;

Article 30 – SCAB WORK DURING A LEGAL STRIKE

30.1.1 After giving reasonable written notice of a membership meeting to all Members of a Local for whom the Local has addresses, such notice to specify the purpose of the meeting and naming the Member(s) who is/are accused, and after all attending Members (including the accused) have had a reasonable opportunity to present their views, such local membership meeting may vote by a two-thirds majority to declare that a Member of that Local has engaged in scabbing, during a given legal strike by the Local.

30.1.2 Where a Local has been placed under trusteeship by reason of the proportion of scabs, the Region’s EBMs will determine which of the Local’s Members have engaged in scabbing. Such determination will only be made after a notice has been sent to all Members of the Local, identifying the members under consideration as scabs, and after all Members have had a reasonable opportunity to present their views. After the matter of scabs has been determined, the trusteeship shall be lifted.

30.2.1 The assessment for damages to the Union for scabbing shall be an amount equal to 100 per cent of the scab’s wages earned during the strike, to a maximum of $10,000 in consideration of the harm to the Union caused by the scab’s action.

30.2.2 The scab(s) will be suspended from membership, removed from any Union office currently held, and the Member’s name will be recorded on a central public registry. These penalties shall remain in effect until the assessment in Art. 30.2.1 has either been paid or collected, if necessary, through enforcement in civil court.

30.3 The Member so penalized and/or assessed damages shall have the right to appeal to the Executive Board, which, after hearing all relevant evidence and arguments, shall have the authority to confirm, vary or nullify the penalty and/or forgive or vary the assessed damages, as it may in its discretion decide. After a period of one year from the date of imposition of the assessment set out in Article 30.2.1, and the penalty set out in Article 30.2.2, an individual may apply to their Local for the penalty to be lifted and/or the assessment to be forgiven. The Local may decide to confirm, vary or nullify the penalty and/or forgive or vary the assessed damages at its discretion.

30.3 Any Member who has been designated by statute and/or collective agreement as providing essential or emergency services and who is called to perform such work during a legal strike shall not be subject to any charge, damages or penalty under this Article as long as the Member performs only such

H21 Retired Members Division Bylaws 

• Article 21 Divisions

(Submitted by Southwest Area Council)

WHEREAS, Article 21.3.2 currently states – To the extent possible, bylaws of the Union governing Locals shall be applied by the Union and the Retired Members to the governance and operation of the Retired Members’ Division.

WHEREAS, Provincial Retirees Division has Bylaws approved by the President’s Office of OPSEU/SEFPO,

THEREFORE be it resolved, that OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution remove Article 21.3.2

H22 Language Facility and Classes 

• Article 16 EXECUTIVE BOARD
• Article 18 FULL-TIME OFFICERS

(Submitted by Provincial Francophone Committee)

WHEREAS OPSEU/SEFPO identifies as a bilingual union; and

WHEREAS French is an official language in Canada, and Francophone workers in Ontario have the right to equitable representation and meaningful access to union leadership; and

WHEREAS effective communication between union leadership and members is essential to strong representation, trust, and democratic participation; and

WHEREAS the ability of the Union President to communicate in French would enhance engagement with Francophone members and improve responsiveness to their concerns; and

WHEREAS leadership may interacts with employers, governments, and stakeholders operating in bilingual environments; and

WHEREAS providing French language training to the Union President represents an investment in leadership capacity, inclusion, and long-term organizational strength; and

WHEREAS access to French language skills would improve the Union President’s ability to represent members in negotiations, public forums, conferences, and inter-union collaboration at the provincial and national levels;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOVED that if the OPSEU/SEFPO president (if not fully bilingual in French and English) they must enroll in and attend an Ontario accredited French language courses within 90 days of swearing in; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the funding comes through the President’s budget; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that training will continue until the President can pass the TCF French proficiency test at a B level.

H23 Delegates 

• Article 13 CONVENTION

(Submitted by Orillia Area Council)

WHEREAS the leaders of specific Sectors and Divisions carry significant responsibility for the governance and strategic direction of their respective units; and

WHEREAS resolutions and constitutional amendments that directly impact these Sectors and Divisions are debated and voted upon at the annual Convention; and

WHEREAS ensuring the direct participation of these leaders is essential for informed debate and representative decision-making;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Article 13.4 of the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution be amended to include the following:

13.4 (f) The Chair of the BPS Long-Term Care Sector and the Chairs of the CAAT Division Executives (Academic and Support) shall be entitled to be automatic delegates to Convention.

H24 Strikebreaking Sanctions

• Article 30 Strikebreaking

(Submitted by: Thunder Bay and District Area Council)

WHEREAS the financial penalties are not likely to succeed.

THEREFORE be it resolved that 30.2.1 be eliminated and change all article numbers to reflect this.

Be it further resolved that the following language change:

30.2.2

The strike-breaker will be suspended from membership, removed from any Union office currently held, and the Member’s name will be recorded on a central public registry.

Additionally, the Member will not be entitled to participate in any further strike action and thus will not receive any further strike pay. The member will also have their seniority revoked. These penalties shall remain in effect until the Member has submitted a written letter of apology acknowledging the impact of their actions and affirming the importance of solidarity within the Union. Submission and acceptance of this letter are required to be considered for reinstatement to good standing.

30.3 The Member so penalized and/or assessed damages shall have the right to appeal to the Executive Board, which, after hearing all relevant evidence and arguments, shall have the authority to confirm, vary or nullify the penalty and/or forgive or vary the assessed damages, as it may in its discretion decide. After a period of one year from the date of imposition of the assessment set out in Article 30.2.1, and the penalty set out in Article 30.2.2, an individual may apply to the Executive Board for the penalty to be lifted and/or the assessment to be forgiven.

The Executive Board may decide to confirm, vary or nullify the penalty and/or forgive or vary the assessed damages at its discretion.