Community Agencies
Sector 5, the Community Agencies Sector, is comprised of more than 4,000 members in 28 locals. These members work in over 69 different agencies. Our members work on the front lines providing vital services in childcare, legal aid, and shelters as well as other important agencies. Our sector continues to grow due to many issues needing to be addressed in our unique work environments, and because of the ever-increasing government cutbacks. As part of the Community Services Divisional Council (CSDC), the Sector 5 Divisional Executive (Divex) has made it a priority to continue to work with other highest-ranking members across the sector in order to organize for much-needed changes.
Latest News
- March 4, 2025
It’s time for workers in the Broader Public Service (BPS) to fight back! For decades, provincial governments have chronically underfunded community based social and health services and universities. In many cases this has been exacerbated by contracting the work out to private agencies. Because of this, the workers providing these critical services have had lower...
- October 23, 2024
Do you work with children and youth in Toronto? On November 18th the Urban Alliance on Race Relations and the Toronto & York Region Labour Council are holding a racial justice summit at City Hall. The focus of the summit will be children and youth and the systemic injustices they face in the city of Toronto....
- July 26, 2024
The College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE), the regulatory body that certifies DECEs and RECEs in Ontario, has informed their members that their annual registration fee will increase by 9.4% this year. DECEs and RECEs must maintain their certification in order to work in the field. OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick has sent the following letter...
- April 16, 2024
We’re thrilled to welcome lawyers at Don Valley Community Legal Services, Community Advocacy and Legal Centre, South Etobicoke Community Legal Services, and the Human Rights Legal Support Centre to OPSEU/SEFPO. These lawyers voted in favor of joining OPSEU/SEFPO, despite the obstacles put in their way by their employer. They join a growing contingent of community...
- April 10, 2024
After months of bargaining, Homes First shelter workers have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new collective agreement! Thanks to the solidarity of the 700+ members, and the tireless efforts of the organizing committee and the Bargaining Team, workers achieved a 13% wage increase from 2022-2024, along with a signing bonus and improvements to benefits, shift...
- September 5, 2023
A young boy was seen tossing stranded starfish from the beach back into the water and was asked why he was making an effort when there are countless stranded starfish. Tossing another back into the water, the boy said, “I just made a difference for that one!” and continued on. OPSEU/SEFPO’s Community Services Division has...
- August 29, 2023
The Broader Public Service (BPS) Conference and Sector Divisional Meetings have been scheduled. Dates Broader Public Service Conference: Friday, November 17, 2023 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. BPS Sector Divisional Meetings (SDMs) Saturday, November 18, 2023 9:00 a.m. Sunday, November 19, 2023 9:00 a.m. Hotel: Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel 123 Queen St. West Toronto, ON...
- November 25, 2022
On November 30, Day of Action events will be taking place across Canada and online, coordinated by child care action groups affiliated with Child Care Now. OPSEU/SEFPO represents many child care workers in our membership. And we also represent tens of thousands of workers whose families need access to quality child care. Let’s all join...
- November 16, 2022
On November 4, the Region 4 Provincial Women’s Committee (PWC) held a candle light vigil in Winchester, in support of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 434 members from Naomi’s Family Resource Centre. The OPSEU/SEFPO Region 4 PWC rep and supporters from the region gathered to light candles and speak in recognition of the essential service the shelter provides...
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Community Agencies sector executive
Patricia Zonta – Chair
BPS All Chairs
Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre – Local 148
[email protected] or 519-791-0148
Elizabeth Wickwire – Vice Chair
[email protected]
Instructor at Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto, President Local 518
Marieka Weathered – Secretary
[email protected]
Homes First Society, L5121
Caitlyn Smith – Interim Treasurer
[email protected]
Career Counsellor at Youth Employment Services, L512
Eddie Mayanja – Member at Large
[email protected]
Homes First Society, L5121
Community Services Divisional Council
Information
- March 28, 2024
- March 7, 2019
Bargaining
- February 15, 2019