Joanne for CUPE 2512 Executive

06/05/2026

To my incredible Fellow Educational Assistants and CYCW’s, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation. We are the true heroes on the frontline, tirelessly working behind the scenes to ensure our schools are safe havens for all. Our dedication makes it possible for children with special needs to thrive in educational environments. Today, I celebrate our unwavering commitment and passion ❤️Our reward lies not in fleeting gestures like coffee or acknowledgement from our employer, but in the triumphs of our students - be it graduation day, a milestone achieved, or the sparkle in their eyes when they come to school. Those precious moments are our celebration. To each of you, I extend my deepest gratitude for the boundless love and support you provide to our students and colleagues alike!!

06/02/2026

💜 Can't make it to Paint the Province Purple this Saturday? You can still make a difference!

Take a few minutes to contact the PC MPP, Premier Doug Ford, or the Ministry of Education and tell them:

📚 Public education needs more funding.
👩‍🏫 Schools need more education workers to support students.
🏫 Every student deserves the resources they need to succeed.

📞 Contact Information:

MPP Brian Saunderson
705-428-2134

Minister of Education Paul Calandra
905-642-2588
[email protected]

Premier Doug Ford
416-745-2859
[email protected]

Every call, email, and message helps amplify our voice. Together, we can advocate for stronger public schools and better support for students across Ontario.💜

05/26/2026

CUPE 2512 has received notification that 15 Morning Supervisor positions are slated for elimination. Given the anticipated increase in enrolment, with an expected 600 new elementary students for the 2026-2027 period, does it make sense to reduce supervisory staff? Who will the board likely assign to undertake these supervisory responsibilities... Educational Assistants and other CUPE staff?
I am extremely nervous about this round of negotiations at our board level…. We need to have strong, experienced voices to fight back against the cuts!!!!!!!!!

05/23/2026

Work and Union emails and texts should never be sent on weekends! Respect workers personal time. We need to be able to disconnect with work and connect with our families and loved ones.

05/20/2026

For all my CUPE friends and colleagues attending the Convention, please take the time to research the candidates you are voting for.

Pay attention to who is supporting them — and who is not. If their own local is not actively supporting or promoting them, there may be a reason.

We need leadership that is strong, transparent, dedicated, respectful, and accountable. Leaders should represent our collective voices, not hidden agendas or personal interests.

At a time when workers are already fighting against a government that continues to undermine public services and workers’ rights, we should not also have to fight against our own leadership.

Solidarity means honesty, integrity, and putting members first. Let’s elect leaders who will truly stand with workers and strengthen our union movement together.

05/14/2026

What an awesome event uniting community and schools!

05/13/2026

This June, CUPE Local 2512 will be accepting nominations for the following positions:

Vice President
Secretary-Treasurer
Lead Steward
Elementary EA Steward
Admin/Clerical Steward
WSIB Steward

The Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Lead Steward positions are especially important this year as we enter a bargaining year. Members elected to these roles will serve as part of the bargaining team and play a key role in negotiating our next Collective Agreement.

It is essential that these positions be filled by experienced, well-trained members who are prepared to advocate effectively on behalf of the membership and help secure the Collective Agreement we want and deserve.

We encourage members who are committed, knowledgeable, and ready to support our union during this critical time to consider putting their names forward.

05/06/2026

To all my wonderful friends, family and colleagues please take some time to join us for this wonderful event. Please register using the
QRcode to ensure that we have enough munchies for everyone.

05/03/2026

With 23 years of experience as an Educational Assistant, I have witnessed significant changes in the expectations and demands of this role. Over time, the position has increasingly required managing high-risk situations involving student behaviour, often necessitating the use of full protective equipment, including safety gear and face shields, to reduce the risk of injury.

Throughout my career, I have experienced multiple incidents of workplace violence, including being bitten, spat on, pinched, kicked, slapped, punched, verbally abused, and having my hair pulled and clothing torn. Most notably, I sustained injuries during an assault that resulted in a 10-day hospitalization due to complications and infection.

I remain committed to supporting students; however, I am increasingly concerned about my personal safety and the potential for future serious injury. I believe it is important to formally acknowledge the risks associated with this role and to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect staff working in these environments.

I am seeking to raise awareness of these concerns and to advocate for safer working conditions, including effective risk assessments, adequate staffing and supports, and clear protocols to prevent and respond to violent incidents.

04/22/2026

Have your voice heard… we need to stand united!!!

Cuts are hitting every corner of our schools — and workers are carrying the weight.
On May 14, join our webinar as we unpack the scope of job cuts and what we can do collectively to protect services, jobs, and the future of public education.
https://ow.ly/O77950YNG6H
📝 Registration is open — sign up today and share widely.
Solidarity is our strength.