The Power of Unions in Ontario's Fight for Pay Equity and Women's Rights

In Ontario, the fight for gender equity has always been deeply connected to the labour movement. I’ve seen first-hand how unions have been instrumental in advancing women’s rights in our workplaces and communities, first as a member of ETFO’s predecessor organization, the Federation of Women Teachers’ Associations of Ontario, and then as a member, local and provincial leader, and ultimately president of ETFO. While we’ve made significant progress, the reality is that Ontario women still face systemic barriers to true equity – barriers that unions continue to challenge every day.

Despite the adoption of Ontario’s Pay Equity Act in 1987 – the result of tireless advocacy by unions and women’s organizations – significant gaps remain, particularly in women-dominated professions like education and health care. These professions continue to be undervalued compared to male-dominated fields requiring similar qualifications. Women still earn 87 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gap that widens significantly for racialized, Indigenous and immigrant women.

Despite these ongoing disparities, ETFO has remained steadfast in pushing for meaningful change as we represent a workforce that is 83 per cent women. In March, we embarked on a strategy to address pay equity issues for ETFO Education Worker members, working with school boards and school authorities to ensure that pay equity is achieved.

ETFO has led the way in fighting for paid pregnancy and parental leave that goes beyond the bare minimum required by law. We have fought for protections against harassment and discrimination for educators, including strong language in our collective agreements. We have fought for women’s health, including mental health coverage and access to reproductive care. Over many years of advocacy and action, we have reshaped workplaces to be more equitable, not just for educators but for all Ontarians. Our fight is for respect for our profession, for pay commensurate with the challenges of our work, and for investments in public schools and other public services that will ultimately advance the rights of our students and their families.

Over the past months, ETFO members organized across the province for both the provincial and federal elections. While the Conservatives won another majority in Ontario, the election of a federal Liberal government was a relief to many. Unfortunately, aggressive economic policies from the US have already had far-reaching consequences, disproportionately affecting women and equity-seeking groups. Tariffs on Canadian goods have disrupted supply chains and led to job losses in sectors where women and marginalized communities are overrepresented, such as manufacturing and retail.

Economic instability exacerbates existing inequalities, including increased precarious work, lower wages and reduced access to social supports. Cuts to public services – a response to economic downturns – further strain child care, health care, and education, sectors predominantly staffed by women. Racialized and Indigenous workers, already facing systemic barriers, are hit hardest by shrinking labour markets.

As educators, we see how economic stress trickles down to students and families, widening equity gaps. ETFO remains committed to advocating for strong public services and economic justice to protect communities from the ripple effects of destabilizing political decisions.

As an organization, we recognize that education issues can’t be separated from broader social justice issues and calls for equity. As we look ahead, ETFO remains committed to bargaining for equity, pushing the Ontario government on issues that are important to our members, and standing with other unions, communities and women’s organizations to advance gender justice across the province.

The lessons from Ontario’s history are clear: when unions are strong, the rights of women and other equity-deserving groups move forward. From winning pay equity legislation in the 1980s to fighting for decent working conditions today, the labour movement has been – and will continue to be – essential to achieving justice and equity in our province.

I look forward to continuing to work with all of you in the coming year. Wishing you a wonderful summer break.

– Karen Brown