District 27 OSSTF

Ontario teachers: What supports help you succeed and stay in the profession? @otffeo has partnered with researchers from Western University, Ontario Tech University, and Wilfrid Laurier University to explore the experiences, skills, and supports that contribute to teacher success and retention in Ontario. Whether you’re early in your career or an experienced teacher, share your perspective! ⏳ Approximately 15 minutes 🎁 Enter to win 1 of 5 $25 gift cards 🔗 Take the survey: bit.ly/4yz02Dd #OSSTF #OntEd

Treaties are more than agreements made in the past — they are living commitments that continue to shape our relationships, communities, and responsibilities today. This Treaties Recognition Week, we recognize the importance of understanding the treaties on the lands where we live, work, and learn. It is an opportunity to listen, learn, reflect, and deepen our understanding of the histories, rights, and ongoing contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. Reconciliation requires more than recognition. It calls for meaningful action, relationship-building, and an ongoing commitment to honouring treaty responsibilities. Learn the history. Understand our responsibilities. Honour the commitments. #TreatiesRecognitionWeek #TRW2026

ICYMI: The Ford government's mishandling of OSAP is dominating headlines again 📰 Recap: The Ford government cited rising OSAP costs to justify giving students at private AND public colleges and universities less provincial OSAP support in grants and more in loans they need to repay with interest. But Canadian Press reporting showed that OSAP usage at public institutions was relatively flat, while usage at a small number of private career colleges was soaring. And this government was warned. Career Colleges Ontario began raising concerns about suspicious OSAP activity at private career colleges in January 2023. Despite years of warnings, the government failed to get the problem under control. Now, in a belated response, the government has imposed a blanket freeze on OSAP payments across private post-secondary institutions, leaving students without the funding they were counting on. ❌ First, students were saddled with more debt. ❌ Now, private post-secondary students have had their funding frozen. At every turn, students are paying the price for this government's mishandling of post-secondary education. Read the full Canadian Press story via CBC. #OSSTF #OnPSE #OSAP

OSSTF/FEESO members: If you were unable to attend your in-person District Bargaining Information Meeting, join us for a virtual session on Wednesday, November 4. Find out where bargaining stands, what may come next, and what you need to know ahead of the November 6–16 central strike vote. Submit questions and hear directly from your union! 📅 Wednesday, November 4 🕖 7–8 p.m. ET 💬 French translation & ASL interpretation will be provided. 🔗 Register: bit.ly/48o86uS The more informed, engaged, and organized we are, the stronger we are at the bargaining table 💪🏽 #OSSTF #OntEd

New to OSSTF/FEESO? Before the central strike vote opens on November 6, make sure you know how to cast your ballot and have your Member ID ready! Check Bargaining Bulletin #13, listed as the October 21 bulletin, for your voting instructions: underfunded.ca/members/

Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, OSSTF/FEESO honours the children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. We remember the profound harm caused by the residential school system and acknowledge that its impacts did not end when the schools closed. The ongoing effects of colonialism, racism, discrimination, and injustice continue to be felt by First Nation, Métis, and Inuit peoples, families, and communities. September 30 is a day to listen to Survivors, confront the history and legacy of residential schools, and reflect on our responsibility to support meaningful action toward reconciliation. At 12 p.m. ET today, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation will present Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a 90-minute national commemorative gathering. We encourage members and followers to watch, listen, learn, and reflect. Watch live: trw-svr.nctr.ca/parliament-h… #NDTR #OrangeShirtDay #EveryChildMatters

OSSTF/FEESO Members: Make sure you’re ready to vote this November. Your #OSSTF Digital Membership Card gives you quick access to your membership ID, which you’ll need to log in to the provincial website and vote. Download your card and add it to your Apple or Google Wallet by following the steps in D/BU #080/2025−2026: bit.ly/4hlvXzm

BREAKING: OSSTF/FEESO will hold a province-wide central strike vote for school board sector members from November 6 to 16 as the current round of collective bargaining continues. “Our members want fair, negotiated contracts that address the realities they are seeing in schools every day. A strike vote gives us an opportunity to strengthen our bargaining position and sends a clear message to the Ford government that OSSTF/FEESO members are united behind the bargaining priorities we will bring to the table,” said #OSSTF President @marthahradowy. A strike vote is not a strike, and it does not mean that job action is imminent or inevitable. A successful strike vote is one step in the collective bargaining process. Full release: bit.ly/4rw8Jv3 #OntEd #OnPoli

Ontario school boards are being forced to fill the gaps left by the Ford government’s underfunding of special education. In 2025-26 alone, boards spent $367 million more on special education than they received from the province. Since 2018, they’ve had to redirect $2.3 billion from other funding to help meet special education needs. That means money intended for other classrooms, programs, and services is being stretched even further, contributing to financial pressures across the entire public education system. Students with special education needs deserve the supports they need, and boards should not have to divert funding from elsewhere to provide those essential supports New research from @CCPA_Ont: bit.ly/46CGbXd #OntEd #OnPoli #OSSTF

#OSSTF school board members: our local bargaining information meeting calendar is now live! Find your local meeting, make plans to attend, and stay informed throughout this critical round of bargaining. Check the calendar and find your meeting: underfunded.ca/members/

18 days without a contract. Teachers, education workers, and students deserve better than continued delays and stall tactics from the Ford government. #OSSTF #DaysWithoutAContract

As students, education workers, and teachers are back in school, every classroom should have the people and supports students need to succeed. But understaffing means fewer supports for students, heavier workloads, and more pressure on the people who keep our public schools running. That’s why OSSTF/FEESO is fighting for proper staffing and better working conditions to help recruit and retain the education workers and teachers students rely on every day. #OSSTF #OntEd

As many students head back to class today, we’re also marking #InternationalLiteracyDay. Every student deserves the support, resources, and opportunities they need to learn, grow, and thrive. That’s what we’re fighting for at the bargaining table: better working and learning conditions, so our members can continue giving students everything they need to thrive 🙌🏽 #OntEd #OSSTF

Every student deserves access to the supports that help them succeed. That's why #OSSTF is fighting for more trained and qualified education workers. Investing in the people who support students means safer schools, stronger learning environments, and better outcomes for students and their communities.

Episode 5 of Education Forum: The Podcast is all about shining a light on the unseen work that keeps our schools running. Our incredible guests include Stefani Burosch, a Professional Student Services Personnel (PSSP) Worker from Kawartha Lakes and Philip Battison, a Plan Support Staff Worker from Ottawa. Check it out: underfunded.ca/#podcast And let us know what you think! Email [email protected]

The school year may be ending, but our work at the bargaining table is just beginning. #OSSTF was proud to stand alongside our education and labour partners today as @AEFO_ON_CA began bargaining. Together, we're united in our commitment to publicly funded education, the members we represent, and the students and communities we serve. Bargaining continues throughout the summer, and we'll keep working together to fight for the resources and supports students need and the working conditions teachers and education workers deserve. #OntEdUnited @ETFOeducators @OECTAProv @OPSEU @osbcucscso

66 days to go. Bargaining is underway. Ontario's teachers and education workers are ready to get to work on the challenges facing publicly funded education. #FinalCountdownFriday #OSSTF #OntEd

Students notice. They notice when classes are too crowded. They notice when there aren't enough teachers and education workers. And they notice when it's harder to get the help and attention they need. New national research found that: 📚 76% of students say large classes make learning harder 👥 56% say there aren't enough education workers & support staff 🏫 48% say there are too many students in their classroom In Ontario, these challenges aren't getting better under this government. They're getting worse. As bargaining continues, #OSSTF will keep fighting for the resources and supports students need and the working conditions teachers and education workers deserve. Full survey results: bit.ly/4vxsV19 #OntEd #OnPoli

"Blending attendance into grades more than likely just makes life even more difficult for students" — #OSSTF Vice President Colin Matthew. Attendance challenges don't exist in a vacuum. Students facing barriers need support, not penalties. Ontario's classrooms are diverse, and a one-size-fits-all directive from Minister Calandra won't address the complex realities students face every day. Read more: bit.ly/4g3zPWT #OSSTF #OntEd #OnPoli