HomeAbout Us

About Us

The OSSTF District 19 Teacher Bargaining Unit represents, negotiates, and advocates on behalf of Secondary Teachers in the Peel District School Board

As a strong, effective union OSSTF District 19 works with members, the employer, and the communities we serve and to which we belong to:

1. Protect and enhance publicly-funded education in Peel and Ontario

2. Ensure that schools are equitable and safe places for staff and students
3. Bargain contracts that protect and improve working conditions

4. Offer professional growth and development

Founded in 1919, OSSTF/FEESO represents approximately 60 000 education workers throughout Ontario. The union works to protect its diverse membership which is represented by 140 bargaining units across the province. For more information about OSSTF/FEESO at the provincial level, please visit www.osstf.on.ca.

We have also created a New Member Package that contains many more details about your Union, District and Bargaining Unit. Members can download it here:

New Member Package 2023-24

Protecting and Enhancing Public Education

As a union that represents education workers across Ontario, OSSTF is a strong voice in support of a research-based approach to education policy in this province. Our advocacy goes beyond simply demanding more for our members, but includes fighting to protect and enhance public education in Peel and across Ontario. We have a world-class public education system, and we must fight to protect it.

Equitable and Safe Schools

It is essential that our public schools provide equitable learning environments for both staff and students. OSSTF District 19 supports an anti-racist and anti-oppression approach to learning and working in Peel schools. Staff and students should always feel welcome and safe in our public schools.

Bargaining to Protect and Improve Working Conditions

There are currently thousands of qualified teachers in the province of Ontario who are choosing not to work in the field of education. We do not have a shortage of teachers, but we do have a shortage of highly educated professionals who are willing to work for school boards that don't value their employees. OSSTF District 19 advocates for better compensation and working conditions for teachers in Peel in order to ensure that our schools can attract and retain the best educators in the province.

Professional Growth and Development

OSSTF District 19 offers training to members on topics such as Contract Maintenance, Advocacy to Activism and Dismantling Anti-Black Racism in our public schools. We also support members with funding for professional development related to their teaching practice via our Short Term Professional Development Leave (STPDL) committee.

Your 2023-24 TBU Executive

Time-Release Officers (working full-time at the D19 Office)

President:

Nicola Allison

nallison@osstfd19.ca

Nicola is also the D19

Liaison Officer for the

following schools:

Applewood Heights

Brampton Centennial

Cawthra Park

Fletcher's Meadow

Glenforest

Jean Augustine

Mississauga

Parkholme

Rick Hansen

Streetsville

Turner Fenton

Vice-President:

Rich Arulsuthan

rarulsuthan@osstfd19.ca

Rich is also the D19 Liaison

Officer for the following schools:

Applewood Acres

Clarkson

Erindale

Harold M. Brathwaite

John Fraser

Judith Nyman

Lorne Park

Louise Arbour

Meadowvale

Stephen Lewis

West Credit

Vice-President:

Aaron Gervais

agervais@osstfd19.ca

Aaron is also the D19 Liaison Officer for the following schools:

Bramalea

CBO

Central Peel

Chinguacousy

David Suzuki

Heart Lake

Lincoln Alexander

North Park

PAS North and South

Roy McMurtry (PAS Central)

Chief Negotiator:

Kelly Bevan

kbevan@osstfd19.ca

Kelly is also the D19 Liaison Officer for the following schools:

Adult Day

Castlebrooke

Humberview

Mayfield

Port Credit

Sandalwood

TL Kennedy

Virtual School

The Woodlands

Anti-Racism Intersectional Officer:

Dorothy Melville

dmelville@osstfd19.ca

Dorothy is also a D19 TBU Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Officer and supports members experiencing equity, racism or oppression in the workplace.

Benefits and Retirement Counsellor:

Dave Finlay

dfinlay@osstfd19.ca

Dave supports members who need assistance in dealing with the Board's Abilities Department, in accessing leaves or benefits, and members who have questions about retirement.

Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Training Officer:

Francis Manyanga

Francis is responsible for the development and organization of dismantling anti-Black racism and anti-oppression training for members of the union executives and branch executives. Francis is also a D19 TBU Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppressions Officer.

Joint Staffing Chair:

Brian Grandy

bgrandy@osstfd19.ca

Brian works with the Board's Manager of Staffing to ensure that schools are allocated appropriate numbers of teachers and that class size caps are upheld.

Racism Reporting Officer:

Danielle Humayun

Danielle supports all Black and racialized members who experience or witness racism, including, but not limited to member-to-member facilitation, mediation with board Human Resources departments, and Grievance committees. Danielle also collects and analyzes data on incidents of racism in order to identify next steps and potential sources of bias in reporting and resolutions.

Non Time-Release Members of Executive (Current Classroom Teachers)

Provincial Councillor:

Robert Deonarine

Robert represents D19 TBU members at OSSTF's Provincial Council (OSSTF's governing body between Annual Meetings of the Provincial Assembly), which meets 5 times per year.

Provincial Councillor:

Rupinder Uppal

Rupinder represents D19 TBU members at OSSTF's Provincial Council (OSSTF's governing body between Annual Meetings of the Provincial Assembly), which meets 5 times per year.

Executive Officer:

Beth Gill

The Executive Officer attends regular meetings of the PDSB and reports back to TBU Council and Executive on issues relevant to the membership.

Communications Chair:

Celine McDonald

communications@osstfd19.ca

Celine chairs the committee that creates the D19 TBU newsletter, "The Appeel". Celine is also the Editor of the Appeel.

Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Action Committee Chair:

Kyle Ali

dabrac@osstfd19.ca

Kyle chairs the committee that advises the TBU and organizes events in support of dismantling anti-Black racism.

Educational Services Chair:

Alanna Grant

edservices@osstfd19.ca

Alanna Chairs the committee that organizes professional development workshops for D19 TBU members.

Excellence in Education Chair:

Paul Miranda

excellenceined@osstfd19.ca

Paul chairs the committee that is responsible for organizing the Student Achievement Awards as well as the Teacher Recognition Awards.

Going Green Chair:

Kate Gibson

goinggreen@osstfd19.ca

Kate chairs the committee responsible for advising and advocating to make the D19 TBU a more environmentally-friendly union.

Health and Safety Chair:

Vacant

healthandsafety@osstfd19.ca

Chairs the committee that oversees health and safety practices in our schools, and also sits on the Multi-Joint Health and Safety Committee with the PDSB and unions that represent other job classes in the PDSB.

Human Rights Chair:

Marlene Blake Seale

humanrights@osstfd19.ca

Marlene chairs the committee that advises the D19 TBU on human rights issues and organizes events and fundraisers in support of human rights causes.

Political Action Chair:

Vacant

politicalaction@osstfd19.ca

Chairs the committee that plans and organizes rallies, campaign support, canvassing, and other political action events in support of public education.

D19 Office Admin Staff:

Meaghan Ulla (Office Manager) and Toni Pellegrino (Admin Assistant)

Meaghan and Toni are responsible for keeping the D19 office functioning so that we can effectively serve and support the membership. If you ever call our office, they are likely the first person who you'll speak with.