Education Worker Presidents and Chief Negotiators endorse the tentative agreement for ratification by the membership. Membership meetings are scheduled for early May.

Teacher/Occasional Teacher Presidents and Chief Negotiators endorse the tentative agreement for ratification by the membership. Membership meetings are scheduled for early May.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce extends school closures to all publicly-funded school until at least May 31, 2020.

OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof releases a video to OSSTF members announcing a tentative agreement and thanking them for their support, dedication, and commitment over the last year fighting for education for the students of Ontario.

OSSTF/FEESO reaches tentative agreement with the province of Ontario at the central bargaining table.

OSSTF/FEESO launches a ‘COVID-19 Updates’ section on the myOSSTF portal.

Premier Doug Ford announces students will not be going back to school on May 4, 2020. Promises that Minister Lecce will have more to say in the coming days.

The Globe and Mail’s Caroline Alphonso publishes an article examining the growing concerns from educators on how the COVID-19 pandemic and distance learning will impact dis-advantaged students now, and going forward.

OECTA members ratify new collective agreement with the Government of Ontario.

OSSTF/FEESO announces the provincial mediator has asked them to return to the negotiating table for the first time since December.

AEFO reaches tentative agreement with the Government of Ontario on central terms for a new collective agreement.

OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof releases a statement in response to the government’s extension of school closures, encouraging government to continue working with educators and af-filiates to provide a “positive learning experience”.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce extends school closures until at least May 4, 2020 to help stop the spread of the COVID-19.

OSSTF/FEESO calls for applications to be submitted by OSSTF members to join the ‘Distance-Learning Advisory Work Group’.

OSSTF/FEESO donates $100K to local charities severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof releases a statement to OSSTF members on distance learning. He also notes the creation of a working group between all four major unions, school boards and the government to advise on distance learning.

ETFO reaches tentative agreement with the Government of Ontario on central terms for a new collective agreement.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce reveals the details of Phase 1 of ‘Learn at Home’ – an online learning program for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lecce promises the distance learning resource will be "high-quality, made-in-Ontario math and literacy resources, created by Ontario-certified educators.”

OSSTF/FEESO announces an indefinite suspension of all strike sanctions effective immediately.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce announces the cancellation of all remaining standard-ized testing for the 2019-20 school year.

Government of Ontario declares state of emergency across the province.

OECTA reaches tentative agreement with the Government of Ontario on central terms for a new collective agreement.

Government of Ontario announces closure of all publicly-funded schools from March 14 through April 5, 2020 as province begins the implement measures to combat COVID-19.

OSSTF/FEESO releases a fact-check chart outlining what Minister Lecce’s latest proposal will mean. 2,800 secondary school teachers will lose their jobs and 16,800 courses will be cut.

Ricardo Tranjan of the CCPA publishes a Twitter thread stating there will still be 4,000 fewer teachers by 2023-24 under the proposed 23:1 class size averages and mandatory online learning with an option to opt-out.

To “minimize the impact our labour actions have on students… With so many… events planned around and during March Break” OSSTF/FEESO announces it will pause all full withdrawal of service job actions beginning next week. The pause in rotating strikes will continue through to March 27.

OSSTF/FEESO members hold a one-day strike in select locations across the province.

Due to public pressure, Minister Lecce announces class size averages of 23:1 and an e-Learning opt-out option without committing to class size caps. OSSTF President Harvey Bischof calls the Minister’s press conference an ‘amateur-hour’ move, noting that the step-down has never been ta-bled in writing as a formal bargaining offer.

The NDP releases summaries of the Ford government’s education consultations that had been kept secret. The results show the majority of Ontarians are against increased class sizes and mandatory e-Learning.

OSSTF/FEESO is called back to the bargaining table for exploratory meetings by the provincial mediator for the first time since December 16.

OSSTF/FEESO announces it will hold a one-day walkout in select locations on March 5.

OSSTF/FEESO members hold a one-day strike in select locations across the province.

Leaked government documents reveal that from the 7,000 public submissions in the Ford gov-ernment’s education consultation, the two main messages were: "Do not increase class sizes— and forget about e-learning."

The Toronto Star reports that the Ontario government’s massive consultations on education showed virtually no support for larger class sizes, according to its own, internal reports which it has refused to release publicly.

During Question Period, Doug Ford is once again fact-checked by Cynthia Mulligan on his claim that his government is spending $1.2 billion more on education.

OSSTF/FEESO, in conjunction with the Ontario Federation of Labour, hold a rally outside the Progressive Ontario Policy Convention in Niagara Falls.

OSSTF/FEESO announces it will hold a one-day walkout in select locations on February 28.

CBC’s Mike Crawley debunks Ford government’s claim that it is spending an additional $1.2 billion on education.

All four major teachers unions hold a full, province-wide strike for the first time since 1997.

A new report by the FAO finds that Ontario’s tax expenditures will cost the $44.4 BILLION in 2019-2020, making it the government’s second-highest area of spending – higher than education at $29.5 BILLION.

TDSB survey finds significant majority oppose government plan for mandatory e-learning.

Question Period in the Ontario Legislature resumes for 2020. Doug Ford is fact-checked by Cynthia Mulligan on his claim that his government has reduced class sizes from 28 to 25. In fact, the government is increasing class sizes from 22:1 to 25:1.

OSSTF/FEESO members hold a one-day strike in select locations across the province.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce participates in a Canadian Club event to discuss the future of education in Ontario.

The four major teacher unions announce a full, one-day strike across the entire province on February 21. This marks the first time since 1997 that all teachers and education workers engage in a full withdrawal of services in Ontario. Minister Lecce’s response is to call on the unions to accept a private mediator and end ‘needless escalations’.

An internal poll commissioned by OSSTF/FEESO of nearly 10,000 Ontarians finds that “a majority of respondents in PC ridings feel the Ford government is doing a “poor” job overall, and the government’s education policies makes them “less inclined” to support the party in the next election.”

OSSTF/FEESO announces, in conjunction with the Ontario Federation of Labour, that it will hold a rally outside the Progressive Conservative Policy Convention in Niagara Falls on February 22.

A Campaign Research poll commissioned by the Toronto Star finds that most Ontarians agree with education unions on class sizes and e-Learning.

The Toronto Sun publishes the results of a poll they commissioned which finds that the majority of Ontarians agree with the teachers in the ongoing education labour disputes. Additionally, the poll finds that “63% of Ontarians believe dispute over education is about "class sizes & mandatory student online credits—not because of a disagreement over an increase in teacher compensation".

OSSTF/FEESO announces it will hold a one-day walkout in select locations on February 13. Travis Dhanraj publishes an article highlighting how most Ontario teachers have lost between 2/3 of pay because of strikes and will likely lose more than two percent if strikes persist.

Broadbent Institute releases a ‘By the Numbers’ chart detailing how the Ford Government’s cuts are currently impacting the education sector. Andrea Grebenc, chair of the HDSB tweets that the Ministry of Education’s directive to move to 28:1 class sizes and four mandatory online learning classes has NOT changed.

OSSTF/FEESO members hold a one-day strike in select locations across the province.

February 3: ‘Vaughan Working Families’ billboards in support of the Ford Government begin popping up across the province. Lecce’s office denies any involvement. Toronto Star’s Editorial Board publishes a piece titled, ‘The Ford government should cut its losses and cut a deal with teachers’.

OSSTF/FEESO announces it will hold a one-day walkout in select locations on February 4. Travis Dhanraj fact checks Lecce’s $1.5 billion figure in his response to OSSTF/FEESO’s announcement.

Minister Stephen Lecce discusses contract talks in an interview with Travis Dhanraj.

Travis Dhanraj releases the informal results of a Twitter poll he conducted asking respondents who they supported in the ongoing labour disputes. An overwhelming 94% of the 10,145 respondents indicated they supported the education unions.

OSSTF/FEESO engages in one-day strike including the Toronto District School Board. Other unions such as ETFO and OECTA hold similar work actions.

OSSTF/FEESO announces a one-day strike in several boards across the province, including Toronto District School Board on Jan. 21.

OSSTF/FEESO members engage in one-day strike across 16 boards in the province.

Confidential documents leaked in the Toronto Star reveal Ford Government viewed cuts to education as a fiscal exercise, designed to achieve “maximum revenue generation” by selling their e-learning courses to other jurisdictions at a profit

One-day teacher strike closes schools in eight boards in Ontario. OSSTF Harvey Bischof says he will call off the strike if the government agrees to return to last year's class size levels, but Education Minister Stephen Lecce rejects the offer.

OSSTF/FEESO announces one-day strike in select boards for January 8 but offers to postpone strike action if staffing ratios are returned to 18/19 and protected.

December 18: OSSTF/FEESO members in eight districts engage in a one-day full withdrawal of services.

OSSTF/FEESO and the province agree to media black-out over the course of their two-day negotiations. No new proposals forthcoming from Government team. Mediator calls off negotiations after one day.

Minister Lecce escalates his rhetoric, making the erroneous claim that OSSTF/FEESO’s compensation ask would add up to $7.0B. Travis Dhanraj of Global News fact checks Minister Lecce’s statement and notes that OSSTF/FEESO has "definitely NOT made any such demand.” The $7.0B figure becomes widely scrutinized and questioned by the media.

OSSTF/FEESO members in nine districts engage in a one-day full withdrawal of services. Beyhan Farhadi publishes a widely shared, extensive twitter thread explaining her findings in her dissertation on e-Learning in the TDSB.

December 7: Colin D’Mello clears up the $1.5B figure Minister Lecce continues to reference and concludes that OSSTF/FEESO compensation ask amounts to $200M/3 years or $66M/year.

OSSTF/FEESO announces one-day strike in select boards for December 11 but proposes to postpone the work action and use a mutually agreed upon private mediator if the government agrees to: revert to 2018-19 average class size regulation of 22:1; eliminate mandatory e-Learning; provide assurances that Bill 124 will not be an impediment to free collective bargaining. Government refuses.

All OSSTF/FEESO members across the province engage in a one-day full withdrawal of services.

OSSTF/FEESO meets with the government team for approximately seven minutes with government tabling no new proposals or showing any willingness to engage in substantive discussions. Travis Dhranaj of Global News publishes story on how leaked government consultation reveals 70% of parents disapprove of increased class sizes.

OSSTF/FEESO meets with Government team for a total of 11 minutes with no substantive discussion of any new proposals. OSSTF/FEESO announces one-day walkout on December 4.

OSSTF/FEESO members begin information pickets and selective withdrawal of services.

Minister Lecce backtracks publicly again, announcing graduation requirement of two e-Learning courses, instead of four. Many media outlets note that jurisdictions with mandatory e-Learning requirements have seen mixed results and rank low in overall education scores. OSSTF/FEESO announces November 26 job action.

OSSTF/FEESO meets with mediator. Over the course of two days of bargaining, the parties met for a total of 39 minutes. Beyhan Farhadi publishes study on e-Learning in the TDSB which documents large inequalities in student experiences and abilities.

Minister Lecce says on CBC Metro Morning teachers want 2% and it would cost $1.5B. #LecceFactCheck notes the OSSTF has never tabled a 2% increase but is asking for a cost-of-living increase tied to the Consumer Price Index, which projects to be <2% per year, for the next five years. In Queen’s Park, Minister Lecce says PC government is spending more on public education than any government in Ontario’s history. #LecceFactCheck – according to Ministry of Education data, spending has decreased by an average of $54 per pupil compared to 2018-19.

OSSTF/FEESO announces strong strike mandate from membership. Minister Lecce calls for mediation through press conference. OSSTF agrees at the bargaining table.

Martin Regg Cohn of the Toronto Star publishes column titled, ‘How Doug Ford’s Tories set the table for costly failure in teachers’ talks.’

OSSTF/FEESO proposes potential cost-saving areas to offset or reverse proposed cuts and asks government for fiscal information to fuel substantive discussion on the subject. Government takes less than two hours to review proposal, dismisses all potential areas for cost-savings and refuses to provide fiscal information.

Ontario government passes Bill 124.

: Bargaining continues, but with very limited discussion. Minister Lecce continues to make public statements that he is looking for a deal despite his team refusing to bring amended proposals on significant issues to the table.

Ricardo Tranjan of the CCPA (Behind the Numbers) publishes interactive map showing board by board cuts to education funding and the impact it will have across the province.

OSSTF/FEESO members who have either lost their jobs or seen reduction in their roles as a result of Ford’s cuts attend Queen’s Park.

Here For Students Campaign hits another critical milestone: Ontarians have sent over 300,000 letters and tweets to MPPs and the Minister of Education calling on them to reverse their cuts to education.

Negotiations continue (8 days of bargaining to date), but government is still unwilling to discuss substantive issues of class sizes, e-Learning or educator cuts. Ricardo Tranjan of the CCPA’s Behind the Numbers publishes article noting that under the government’s increase from 22:1 to 25:1, 5,900 teachers will lose their jobs.

At a press conference rather than the bargaining table, Ministry publicly backtracks on class size increases, announcing they will increase from 22 to 25 instead of increasing to 28. Government frames the increase in class sizes as a reduction and says this is a “first move” and not the “final move” on class sizes.

OSSTF/FEESO files for conciliation for both support staff and the T/OT central bargaining tables. Minister Lecce incorrectly says that 2% pay raise is holding up the negotiations.

In response to the government’s unwillingness to negotiate on any substantive issues, OSSTF/FEESO announces that strike votes will be taken.

Negotiations continue; despite multiple days of bargaining (5 total), government has yet to “present any new proposals on any of the significant issues that are on the table”.

OSSTF/FEESO tables Support Staff negotiating brief with Ministry.

OSSTF/FEESO tables Teacher/Occasional Teacher negotiating brief with Ministry.

After months of government claiming not a single frontline educator would lose their job as a result of their cuts, Financial Accountability Officer of Ontario issues a report that projects 10,000 teaching positions will be lost over the next 5 years because of Ford’s funding cuts.

OSSTF/FEESO launches Bargaining for Education, announcing their transparent bargaining position and making negotiating briefs available to the public.

OSSTF President appears on The Agenda with Steve Paikin to discuss education cuts in Ontario.

Initial bargaining dates of September 19 withdrawn by the Ministry, but new dates set for end of the month. Kristin Rushowy publishes article in The Toronto Star outlining the concerns of Grade 12 students who can’t take the necessary courses needed for university because of larger classroom sizes.

OLRB renders decision

Ricardo Tranjan of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) (Behind the Numbers) publishes article stating “the Ontario government is transferring $430 million less (adjusted for inflation) to school boards than the amount transferred in 2017-2018. That’s a (real) 2% cut in total operating funding.”

TDSB announces 300 jobs lost for 2019-2020 school year due to Ford’s cuts according to CP24 article.

August 22: OLRB hearing takes place.

OSSTF/FEESO lets Ontarians know that members will be in schools in September.

The OLRB sets date of August 22 for hearing of application