Renfrew Country Cope Local 103

Education workers, we want to hear from you! We want to know what's really happening in your workplace. Tell us the hardest parts of the job, what needs to change, and where you feel unheard.

Your answers will better inform our next campaign, shaping how COPE Ontario fights for you.

Got 5 minutes to spare? Click the link to access the survey: https://forms.gle/2p86qTQCm5kxiUgV6

COPE Ontario echoes the concerns of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) regarding the waves of cuts to Ontario hospitals over the past few months.

More cuts don't only mean more people are left without jobs. It means communities are left without care; medications and assessments could be delayed, and a reduced staff is left burnt-out and overworked.

COPE Ontario represents hundreds of hospital clerical staff who will undoubtedly feel the weight of these cuts, especially those in Local 468 who are employed at London Health Sciences Centre, which has seen 288 nursing cuts since March.

We stand with the ONA and other healthcare unions against these cuts, and against the Ford government's steady push toward an Americanized health care system. Hospital staff do life-changing work. Communities deserve to keep it.

COPE is headed into bargaining on behalf of our five locals who have members in the education sector. ✊

The process began earlier this month with official notification to the provincial government and Council of Directors of Education that we’re ready to get going.

COPE is the largest union in the Ontario Council of Educational Workers (OCEW), which includes four other unions. In total, OCEW represents about 4,000 education workers across the province.

OCEW has provided employer representatives with our availability for June and July. The first meeting will be to discuss logistics and ground-rules.

The five COPE education locals are 527 (Hamilton), 103 (Pembroke), 454 (Thunder Bay), 529 (Nipissing-Parry Sound) and 429 (Timmins).

Watch this space for updates 👀

It's official: Ontario's education unions have served notice to bargain — and COPE Ontario is in the fight!

We're bringing the voices of Educational Assistants and support staff to the table. For too long, students with needs have been left without the EA support they depend on. Bigger classes, fewer supports, and a funding crisis that's failing the most vulnerable kids in our classrooms. That changes at the bargaining table.

This round, we're demanding the province fund education to match the needs of every student in every classroom. The fight starts now. Stay tuned. 💪 ✊

COPE joins union call for education system rescue!

COPE Ontario Director Glenn Wheeler joined other labour leaders at a news conference on Wednesday to call on the Ford government to deal with the funding crisis in the education system.

Increased class sizes, reductions in Educational Assistants and other support staff and increasing central control by the government are the story of education in Ontario today.

Loss of EAs and other support staff means students with needs are not getting the services they require and classroom conditions for all students is being affected.

Bargaining for new collective agreements is about to begin, and COPE and other unions will be calling on the province to increase funding to match population increases.

COPE has education locals across Ontario and bargains through the Ontario Council of Educational Workers, which includes four other unions.

⚠️The Carney government is quietly moving to change Canadian labour law in ways that could strip workers of their right to strike - and that is not an exaggeration.

A discussion paper distributed April 17 and reported by the Toronto Star proposes expanding "essential service" designations, allowing earlier government intervention in bargaining, and strengthening Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, the provision used to order workers back on the job and impose binding arbitration.

What does this mean for you?
➡️ More workplaces could be designated "essential," effectively banning strikes
➡️ The government could intervene earlier to shut down labour action
➡️ Employers have less reason to bargain in good faith
➡️ Wages, benefits, pensions, and workplace safety become harder to fight for

Unifor president Lana Payne put it plainly: "Their freedom to bargain collectively is on the line, and with it every single protection in their collective agreement, from wages to fairness and safety on the job."

And they want to do all of this in 35 days. COPE Ontario says that is not enough time to reshape the most significant piece of labour legislation in the federal jurisdiction.

Workers built this country. You do not strengthen Canada by silencing the people who keep it running.

‼️ALL RCCDSB Schools Closed & Transportation Cancelled Wednedsay March 11th, 2026‼️

Due to the severe weather, all school transportation is cancelled AND all RCCDSB schools, Board and Plant offices are closed for today, March 11th, 2026. This means there will be no in-person classes or activities at any RCCDSB school. All staff will also be working remotely and will not be in school buildings.

Please exercise caution and stay home today when possible. We understand that this closure may be disruptive, and we appreciate your understanding as we prioritize the safety of our students, staff, and community. We will continue to monitor the weather conditions and provide updates as needed.