ETFO Support Staff Strike is Over!
Support Staff for the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario have ratified a new collective agreement. A tentative deal was reached in the early hours of Wednesday January 21, and a ratification vote was held in the afternoon. The strike, which began on January 12, 2026, is over. The public rally planned for Thursday January 22, has been cancelled. Support Staff are expected back to work on Thursday January 22.
The Support Staff, members of SEIU Local 2, are very grateful for the incredible support they received during the strike and say they can now get back to the important work of supporting ETFO’s 84,000 members.
More details will be available soon …
Support staff for the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) are on strike as of Monday January 12!
Join us on the picket line at 136 Isabella Street in Toronto between 8am and 4 pm.
We are rising up to close the ever-increasing wage gap and disparity in leave provisions.
ETFO Support Staff want a contract that reflects our value and recognizes our vital role in supporting ETFO’s approximately 83,000 members.
Share our Story
Member Voices
Having access to Care Leave Days affords me the opportunity to safely take my aging parents to their various medical appointments. Having parity with other ETFO employees when it comes to personal and care leave is a matter of fairness and respect and grounded in real life circumstances.
—Erin Orida, 29 years of service
We the Administrative staff at ETFO are proud of the work we do, but years of low morale, mistrust, and unfair treatment have brought us to a breaking point. We’re standing together to demand a workplace built on respect.
—Nadine Moore, 20 years of service
Support Staff is asking for parity in leave days and fairness when it comes to wage increases. Our ask is fair and equitable based on the work that we do for this organization.
—Denise Vaughan, Nearly 10 years of service
We are here today because we are fighting for fair wage increases. ETFO is one family. Families protect, listen, and ensure no one is left behind. So we ask from the heart are support staff not also part of that family?
—Liny Atwi, 1+ years of service
We believe in our members and the work they do. We believe in the services ETFO provides. We stand behind our organization. We are simply asking for fair treatment consistent with the organization’s core values.
—Jenn Stewart, 18 years of service
We’re bringing the energy and the noise on the picket line. We are just trying to be heard. We will be lively until we get a fair agreement. We’re not asking for anything but fairness.
—Jasraj Chahal, 10 years of service
Sign the Petition
Background
The nearly 60 Support Staff at ETFO provide administrative, accounting, clerical, and IT support to all ETFO staff. Their role is to ensure that ETFO members are supported through maintaining records and databases, processing member release time, coordinating catering and meeting logistics for ETFO programs and more.
Support Staff are typically the first line of contact when an ETFO member requires support. ETFO has approximately 83,000 members that include public elementary teachers, occasional teachers, education support personnel, professional support personnel and designated early childhood educators.
SEIU Local 2 and ETFO have been engaged in bargaining since June of 2025, including numerous conciliation dates in November and December. On November 12, the Support Staff rejected the employer’s offer and overwhelmingly approved strike action.
Voices of Solidarity
The work of support staff is essential to the success of our organization’s work. We couldn’t do it without them!
—Meagan Perry, ETFO EA
We could not do the work we do at ETFO on behalf of our members without the dedication, commitment, and expertise of our incredible support staff. They deserve a fair contract.
—Federico Carvajal, ETFO EA
As an EA with ETFO I fully support the goals of closing the gap; using the same percentage wage increase means that gap continues to grow. As a parent I also value care leave days, support staff should have the same number to take care of their family.
—James Taylor, ETFO EA
I am disappointed that it has come to this. That loyal, hard-working employees have been forced to take strike action. I am hopeful that parties will return to the table immediately to reach a fair collective agreement.
—Gene Lewis, former General Secretary of ETFO
Thank you for your support!
