Organize.

Win.

CARE.

Organize. Win. CARE.

BUILDING

UNION POwER

Fighting for the schools our students deserve

What’s at Stake

Every day in our schools, educators are being stretched beyond what is reasonable.

  • Larger class sizes

  • Increasing violence

  • Fewer supports for students

  • Growing burnout

Over $6.35 billion has been removed from public education, and the impact is clear.

What shows up in classrooms, stress, disruption, violence, is often the result of unmet student needs in an underfunded system.

This isn’t just about teachers.
This is about every family in Ontario.

Organize. Win. Care.

  • The Problem


    Schools are underfunded

    Class sizes rising

    Violence increasing

    Educators burning out

    Violations of the collective agreement

  • The Cause


    Over $6.35B removed from education

    Chronic underfunding

    Divide-and-conquer strategy

  • The Strategy

    Organize school by school

    Escalating actions with 90% participation

    Parent/community alliance building

    Bargaining for the schools our students deserve

Meet the BUP Candidates

A smiling man wearing glasses, a light-colored shirt, and a brown vest with a black button pin that reads 'Smaller Classes BIG DIFFERENCE'.

President-Elect/Acclaimed

  • Every day in our schools, educators are being stretched beyond what is reasonable, with larger class sizes, increasing violence, unfilled vacancies, and more being downloaded onto us with less support. It doesn’t have to be this way. Together, we can push back and win the conditions our teachers and students deserve.

    I’ve served as your Vice President, Anti-Racism Lead, and Strike Team lead. I’ve represented members in discipline, grievances, accommodations, and political challenges. I bring strike experience, governance oversight, deep parent and labour alliances, and a record of defending members under pressure.

A woman with curly red hair wearing glasses, a white striped shirt, and a plaid vest, smiling against a plain background.

Vice Presidential Candidate

  • As an Educator with 20 years experience in the classroom and on your ETT Executive, I am excited to work with you as your ETT Vice President to build an equitable, socially just public education system.  

    This is a hard time in your schools.

    The Ford Government has cut more than $6.3 billion from your classrooms.  These cuts have been disastrous.  You have experienced increased workload and violence, diminishing supports for your students who need it the most, and attacks on your professionalism and sick leave.

    It doesn’t have to be this way.

    As your ETT Vice President, and as we go into bargaining, I will work with your ETT Executive Team to:

    • Ensure you are supported and connected with a Steward and Action Team in each school

    • Organize campaigns on your true working conditions

    • Continue my alliance-building with parents, labour and community groups to fight for a strong public education system.

    You are the union.  Together, we will build the strength needed to win the schools our students and teachers deserve.

    My name is Maria Abbruzzese, and I seek your support for ETT Vice President.

A woman with short black hair, wearing glasses, a dark blazer, and a white shirt, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

Secretary Treasurer Candidate

  • As Secretary-Treasurer, I will build systems as strong as our members. Every dollar and every piece of data we have should move our work forward, strengthen organizing, and protect members’ rights through transparent and accountable practices.

    The Board and the Province are using modern tools to shape and amplify their message. We cannot rely on what we’ve done in the past to meet this challenge. We need innovative systems and approaches that operate at scale to ensure our voices are heard, our rights are protected, and our students have healthy learning environments.

    As an Executive Officer, I have seen firsthand how outdated systems and complicated processes make it harder to support members like you. At ETT, I have already helped modernize tools and streamline processes, and I am ready to accelerate this work. To organize effectively, we need systems that protect and centralize our institutional memory, build on our wins, and focus our energy where it has the greatest impact.

    As your Secretary-Treasurer, I will ensure our dues are used responsibly and strategically, with clear and accessible financial reporting. My focus is on building practical tools and strong systems that make our union more responsive, more coordinated, and more powerful when it matters most.

    Vote for ELIZABETH SO for accountable, transparent leadership that puts members first and builds the systems we need to organize and win.

A man with a beard and bald head smiling outdoors, standing in front of green foliage.

Executive Officer Candidate

A smiling woman with long blonde hair wearing a pearl necklace and a black and white outfit, standing in front of a colorful school craft display of apples with children's names on them.

  • In all of us hides a power that we don’t know exists until we stand for what we believe in with thousands of our fellow members standing beside us. The coming years are crucial to the future of public education in our city and in our province. Let’s stand together.

Executive Officer Candidate

  • Since 2002, I have often served as a Union Steward, advocating for our members’ rights and safety. My career spans all grade levels, including over 20 years dedicated to Kindergarten. This extensive experience gives me a unique perspective on the foundational challenges in our schools and the specific needs of our educators. I LISTEN to our members, and I care.

    Addressing Classroom Violence

    My primary focus is the crisis of rising violence in our classrooms. Our schools must be safe environments for both students and staff. As your Executive Officer, I will:

    Demand stricter health and safety protocols and an efficient system for reporting of incidents.

    Advocate for increased staffing and specialized support, especially in Kindergarten and classrooms with students in crisis.

    Hold TDSB accountable for its legal obligation to provide a safe, non-violent workplace.

    Experienced Advocacy

    With my work as a steward, I have the institutional knowledge to navigate our collective agreement and defend your professional interests. I am committed to being a visible, accessible leader who prioritizes the physical and mental well-being of every member. Vote for experience and a trusted voice for a safe and kind workplace.

Portrait of a woman with long blonde hair wearing a black turtleneck against a white background.

Executive Officer Candidate

  • My commitment is unwavering: to stand with you, advocate for you, and fight for the properly funded public education system you and our students deserve.

    I will continue to show up in solidarity, providing timely, effective support while firmly defending your rights and every aspect of our Collective Agreement. Through ongoing education and active organizing, we will build stronger member engagement and ensure your voices are heard, acted upon and respected.

    As Lead Negotiator, I will bring your priorities directly to the bargaining table. By maintaining a consistent, visible presence in schools and worksites, I will stay connected to the realities in your classrooms and offer meaningful, responsive support.

    Together, we will celebrate our collective wins and keep pushing forward—advocating for the working conditions you deserve and the schools our communities rely on.

A man with a beard and short brown hair, wearing a gray button-up shirt with rolled-up sleeves, standing against a gray background with arms crossed.

Executive Officer Candidate

  • During the last two years, the TDSB has become almost unrecognizable.

    The actions of the TDSB under the Ford-appointed supervisor have wreaked chaos and among our members, including:

    • The punitive and arbitrary management of sick leave

    • The draconian, heavy-handed disciplines at Bowmore and the culture of fear it has created

    • The unilateral decision to increase ISP class sizes

    As the EO for Bowmore and co-Grievance Coordinator, I’ve had a close look at the Board’s most repressive, ruthless mechanics under Calandra’s appointed supervisor.

    I know what they are capable of, but I have also seen up-close where power lies: In the solidarity of colleagues who won’t let each other down, in parents who know that the plight of teachers and the learning conditions of their students are inextricably linked, and in the power of our 10,000 members. 

    The truth is, we have an unbridled capacity in our membership and in our communities. 

    We need to match the Board in its vigour.  A vote for me is a vote to build our union power.

A woman with black, curly hair and glasses wearing a red blazer and a blue top, smiling against a plain white background.

Executive Officer Candidate

  • It has been an honour to serve as your Executive Officer over the past four years. Throughout this term, I have worked closely with ETT members, School Action Teams, Stewards, and Executive Officers to build our union power through a strategic commitment to organising, social justice, and empowerment. I have:

    • Served as Grievance Coordinator

    • Worked collaboratively with over 125+ stewards and school action team members

    • Facilitated 90 school visits across 48 schools

    • Built a Ward 20 & 21 Website

      • With 3,500 unique visitors since its inception

    • Expanded equitable access & transparency by using Calendly for phone calls & school visits

    • Produced, coordinated and facilitated workshops on the following topics :

      • Building Organising Skills: Developing a Public Narrative

      • Building Organising Skills: Charting

      • Navigating your NTIP

      • Navigating your TPA

      • Understanding & Using Robert’s Rules

    Let’s keep building union power with a vision for classrooms, schools and communities where we all feel we belong and have the tools to succeed.

A man with curly black hair and a dark button-up shirt smiling at the camera against a plain white background.

Executive Officer Candidate

  • I am a committed trade unionist who believes deeply in the power of collective action and in the essential role of hope in creating meaningful change in our workplaces and in public education.

    Through my work on the Labour Education and Leadership Committee, I have organized events that actively support and engage new members. These spaces build confidence, foster connection, and ensure early-career educators feel supported and empowered. At a time when many feel overwhelmed or disconnected, this work helps strengthen member voice and participation.

    As a member of the negotiations team, I have worked collaboratively to protect and advance member rights and entitlements. I bring persistence, attention to detail, and a deep respect for the lived experiences of educators ensuring those voices are represented at the table and reflected in stronger working conditions.

    On the Surplus & Transfer Committee, I have upheld agreement entitlements while ensuring processes are fair, transparent, and consistent.

    At my core, I believe unionism is about both advocacy and care grounded in the understanding that hope, when paired with collective action, is one of our most powerful tools for change.

    I would be honoured to have your support.

A smiling woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing glasses, a black blazer over a light blue top, and layered necklaces, against a plain white background.

Executive Officer Candidate

  • As a current TDSB elementary teacher, I see firsthand the challenges we face each day. Across our schools, members are dealing with reduced support, increasing violence, and the growing burden of administrative tasks being downloaded onto teachers. 

    As your Executive Officer, I don’t have to imagine these realities as I am living them alongside you. That perspective grounds my work and fuels my commitment to advocate for meaningful change.

    Experience: 

    In my role as Regional Organizer for Ward 2, I prioritize inclusion, relationship-building, and creating a sense of energy and engagement among members.

    With experience on the ETT Bargaining Committee and as an active site steward, I bring both knowledge and dedication to this work.

    Goals: 

    • strengthening our collective power by including you

    • ensuring timely and effective support for all members

    • building strong structures in each of your schools 

    • regular school visits, supporting and connecting stewards 

    • prioritising key relationships with parents and community groups

    • maintaining clear communication in person and digitally

    As a mother of TDSB students, former school council chair and a current classroom teacher my experience is current and I know why I want to fight for the working conditions you demand!

A smiling man with short gray hair, glasses with an orange frame, wearing a black shirt and a dark patterned blazer, standing against a plain light gray background.

Executive Officer Candidate

  • Since you entrusted me with your vote as Executive Officer, I have fought tirelessly to defend and advance the rights of our members. I have stood shoulder to shoulder with teachers in opportunity-to-respond meetings and WSIB return-to-work processes — particularly supporting members on sick leave who are facing scrutiny, pressure, or mistreatment by the TDSB. Members should never feel vulnerable, intimidated, or isolated when they are unwell, and I will continue to challenge those situations.

    I consistently go above and beyond, maintaining an open ear to the concerns and ideas of members because our collective strength depends on listening and acting together. I proudly serve as Liaison to the ESJ, PAPE, and 2SLGBTQIA+ committees, supporting their important social justice work.

    My focus has been on:

    • Advocating for members facing workplace challenges

    • Supporting colleagues through complex board processes

    • Advancing equity and social justice within our union

    As we head into negotiations, I am prepared to fiercely defend public education, our Collective Agreement, and our members. The fight against cuts, erosion of supports, and privatization is not over.

    Our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions. I ask for your renewed trust and your vote.

The Power Pledge

I commit to:

✔ Voting for the Building Union Power
candidates

✔ Encouraging my colleagues to vote
for them

✔ Staying informed and engaged with
union updates

✔ Participating in collective actions
when called upon

Because I believe we deserve:

  • Safe schools

  • Fair working conditions

  • A properly funded public education system

We only win when
we act together.

Campaign poster featuring Nigel Barriffe with a wide smile, wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a brown blazer. The poster incorporates bold text and icons emphasizing messages of leadership, unity, and political advocacy, including the slogan 'Lead.
A poster with a yellow background and red accents, featuring a woman in a red blazer and glasses smiling, promoting Julius for election as an Executive Officer, with text highlighting her accomplishments, commitments, and contact information.
A campaign flyer for Maria Abbruzzese's bid for Vice President, featuring a portrait of her and information about her experience, platform, and endorsements from labor and community organizations.
A campaign flyer for Brian Altay featuring his photo, name, and experience. The flyer has the slogan ‘Building Union Power’ with a logo of red hands inside a yellow sun. The slogan ‘Empowering Teachers is Investing in Our Future’ in blue. Bullet poin
Flyer or campaign poster advocating for safer schools and increased staff support, featuring a photo of Kelly Buchanan, a logo with a sun and raised hands, and text about her platform for educational safety.
Profile of Shannon Kohlmeier, candidate for Executive Officer. Includes a headshot of a woman with shoulder-length hair, glasses, smiling, dressed in a black blazer and white shirt. The poster highlights her union activism, leadership, and commitment
A campaign poster for Jonathan Giles running for executive officer. It features a photo of a man with a beard and crossed arms, and includes campaign messages about collective power, building links, restoring dignity, and preparing for the next gover
Campaign flyer with a portrait of Emily Macklin, candidate for reelection, with colorful background and sections highlighting her campaign platform, contact information, and leadership qualities.
A political campaign poster showing a man in a red shirt with glasses and a woman with pink hair at a rally holding signs and banners supporting teachers' rights and union power. The poster includes phrases such as 'Re-Elect Rico Rodriguez for Execut
Campaign poster featuring a woman wearing glasses and a red beanie with 'ETFO' written on it. The poster includes Pink and yellow color blocks, with information about Elizabeth So's campaign for a Secretary-Treasurer role, priorities such as financia
Close-up of Jonathan Lowe smiling, wearing a light purple collared shirt, with campaign text and logo in the background.