Quinte Labour Council

09/03/2026

Canada is at its strongest when workers have the power to speak up, organize, and stand up for their rights.

This upcoming , we're calling on the government to protect the rights that make stronger workplaces and a stronger Canada possible.

09/02/2026

JOINT STATEMENT: Minister Calandra said he was confident new collective agreements could be reached before the end of summer.

August 31 has come and gone, and more than 275,000 teachers and education workers are heading into the school year without new contracts.

The problem is bigger than missed timelines. Ontario’s publicly funded education system is under immense strain, and the Ford government is trying to take even more decision-making away from local communities and concentrate it at Queen’s Park.

Together with our education affiliates, we are calling for respect for the bargaining process, meaningful negotiations, and real action on the challenges facing students and education workers.

Full joint statement: https://bit.ly/4gtBJ2V

AEFO
Elementary Educators
OECTA - Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association
OSBCU - CSCSO

OCEW
EWAO

09/02/2026

This morning, Ontario’s education unions issued a joint statement:
Teachers and education workers will welcome students back next week without new contracts, despite months of urging the government to begin bargaining early.

Minister Calandra repeatedly claimed he was “optimistic” agreements would be reached before Labour Day. That optimism was misplaced — and out of touch with the realities in our schools.

The Ford government is attempting to centralize bargaining and move long‑standing local issues to the provincial table. These changes would strip local autonomy, weaken the ability of locals to address community needs, and concentrate power at Queen’s Park at a time when publicly funded education is already under immense strain.

Ontario’s 275,000+ education workers deserve a government that respects their expertise, values their work, and negotiates in good faith.
Our students deserve better.
Our communities deserve better.
Public education deserves better.

AEFO OECTA - Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association Elementary Educators Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF)

Read the full statement here: https://ow.ly/pUIO50ZHElC
Lien vers le communiqué:https://cscso.ca/2026/09/01/les-belles-paroles-de-calandra-sur-les-negociations-ne-tiennent-pas-la-route-face-aux-defis-criants-de-leducation-financee-par-les-fonds-publics/

09/02/2026

Solidarity with all education members✊

Save the Date!

Join in a provincial-wide day of action ❤️✊💜 on Wednesday, September 16, OPSEU/SEFPO members will join teachers and education workers across Ontario for a province-wide Day of Action to defend publicly funded education!

Together with Educators from ETFO, OSSTF, OECTA, AEFO, OSBCU, CSCSO, EWAO, and OCEW, we represent more than 275,000 workers 💪

Our contracts have expired -
We are united in demanding properly funded and staffed schools, better working conditions for the students and workers, who make public education possible!

We are standing together, while the Ford government is trying to divide!

More details to come!

09/01/2026

Great news that OPSEU Local 448 members have settled. Hope the trend continues.

08/31/2026

Public health care is too important to Canada’s well-being and economy to fall off the premiers’ priority list.

That was the message from nursing union leaders across Canada, including ONA Provincial President Erin Ariss, CEO Andrea Kay and Region 4 Vice-President Grace Pierias, at a policy breakfast hosted by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) during the Council of the Federation meeting in Charlottetown, PEI this past July.

Read the full article:
https://onamag.org/fuel/code-blue/cfnu-policy-breakfast-2026/

08/31/2026

Here's an update from ONA Provincial President Erin Ariss, RN, about how she's been fired up by ONA members who are finding new ways to .

"While the work of ONA is never-ending, thankfully, neither is the resolve of our fierce, fiery and, as we know far too well, fed-up members."

"Let me provide just a handful of examples from the past few months alone that have greatly inspired and energized me."

Read Erin's update: https://onamag.org/fuse/inside-ona/we-will-push-back/