Sector 3 Newsletter: Boards of Education and Cultural Institutions

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Bridging the Gap: Sector-wide Local meetings

A strong union starts with building relationship, sector by sector – starting right here. In this spirit, the Sector 3 Executive will be organising meetings with Local Presidents. The Executive would like to hear from you to learn about your Local and your membership.

In accordance with concerns raised at the last Broader Public Services (BPS) Conference in November 2023, your Sector Executive continues discussions on how we can better centre equity in our organizing efforts sector wide. Local discussions are an important way we can continue that conversation – look out for an invite to join us in the near future!

Social Mapping Survey

The Social Mapping Project (SMP) is a ground-breaking demographic survey and review of OPSEU/SEFPO membership systems launched in 2010 – the first of its kind, and an important piece of our work to strengthen our union together. It has since allowed OPSEU/SEFPO to identify gaps and barriers by providing the necessary information to ensure services meet the needs of all members.

OPSEU/SEFPO members throughout the entire province will be asked to complete a survey to learn more about who we are and how to make our union stronger. To receive your personalized survey link, please register or update your information on the member portal.

Register / Update your information here

OPSEU/SEFPO has come a long way – but there is so much more to be done to make our union and our province more equitable and just. By participating in this project, you can be a part of making that happen.

We want all our voices to be heard! For more information on how to register or update your information, click here. If you have questions that this guide does not answer, you can contact us at memberportal@opseu.org.

Upcoming Conferences

Bargaining Conference: The Sector is preparing for central bargaining for 2026 – look out for more information in the coming months.

Broader Public Services (BPS) Conference: The next BPS Conference will be held November 2025 – look out for more information in the coming months.

Bargaining News

Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) – Local 535

After a historic, first-ever month-long strike – which shut down the gallery – member of Local 535 successfully ratified a new collective agreement on April 26th, 2024. The agreement opens important doors in the fight against encroaching and long-standing precarity at the gallery. The Sector was proud to see Local members shutting it down on a picket line rich with creative energy. Equally heartening was the outpouring of support from the larger membership, who stood with striking workers by walking the line, sharing social media messaging, donating to the Local, and taking the #NoDealNoAGO pledge to withdraw support from the gallery until a fair deal was reached.

A group of workers holding OPSEU/SEFPO flags and placards

Full-time and part-time Local 535 members at the Harbourfront Power Plant are now in bargaining after their contract expired on May 31, 2024.

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) – Local 543

Local 543 has reached a tentative agreement for its full-time members! The agreement enshrines important gains for workers, including a 9.5% wage increase over a four-year term expiring March 31, 2025, as well as a signing bonus and a 2.5% Bill 124 wage re-opener package.

Part-time members remain in bargaining since the part-time contract expiry on March 31, 2022 – the bargaining team is making preparations for upcoming dates at the table with the employer on October 15th and 22nd.

Ontario Council of Educational Workers (OCEW) – Update on Bill 124 Negotiations

In December 2023, the Ministry of Education came to the Ontario Council of Educational Workers (OCEW) table and offered members a “Me-Too” agreement. The agreement set out financial increases on par with amounts awarded to CUPE education workers. Explicit in this offer was the stipulation that member unions of OCEW would have to sign away their rights to seek remedies under the constitutional challenge to Bill 124. As per our last update, OCEW opted to turn down the Ministry’s proposal to instead pursue filing a “me too” grievance.

As you may recall, OCEW’s 2019-2022 central settlement contained a “me too” provision stipulating that if any other education worker central tables, such as OSSTF and ETFO, were awarded greater wage increases than OCEW for the 2019-22 period, such increases must also be provided to OCEW education workers.

Over the last several months, OPSEU/SEFPO has met with the Crown and the Council of Trustees’ Association (CTA) regarding the remedy for Bill 124. On May 22, 2024, OPSEU/SEFPO met with our OCEW affiliates to review a tentative agreement proposing to settle the “me too” grievance and signed a Memorandum of Settlement on June 19, 2024.

In accordance with this MOS, payments are to be dispersed by October 15, 2024. Members who may have worked during the moderation period but are no longer employed are still eligible for receiving retroactive pay – please contact your employer to make arrangements.

It’s been a long and arduous process – and we can thank the Ford government, enacting three years of unconstitutional wage suppression while public service workers struggled through a global health crisis. The Sector Executive extends its thanks to the tireless work of OCEW affiliates as well as OPSEU/SEFPO members and staff in getting members their just monies!

Reminder: Sector Dues

Reminding Locals to please pay your Sector dues: your dues help to cover the costs of promoting Sector activities and the important work we do in our teaching and learning environments. Please look for the invoice and reminder sent to you by Sector 3 Treasurer, Donna Caissie.

Congratulations to our Sector Executives: Awards and Appointments

Congratulations are in order for Sector 3 Executive members and the array of new awards and appointments:

Melody Hurtubise, Sector 3 Executive Acting Chair

We celebrate Local 2100 President and Sector Acting Chair Melody Hurtubise, winner of the Leah Casselman award for “Mobilizing” at Convention 2024.

Kelly Martin, Region 3 Executive Board Member

Congratulations to Kelly Martin, Sector 3 Executive Member at Large, on her appointment as a Region 3 Executive Board Member.

Bonnie Eddy, Region 3 Provincial Women’s Committee Representative

Lastly, congratulations to Bonnie Eddy, Sector 3 Executive Member at Large, on her appointment as the Region 3 Provincial Women’s Committee representative.

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In solidarity,

Your Sector 3 Division Executive

Sandra Cadeau, Chair

Melody Hurtubise, Acting Chair

Susan Richarz, Secretary

Donna Caissie, Treasurer

Rebecca Bailey, Member at Large

Kelly Martin, Member at Large

Bonnie Eddy, Member at Large