Women’s Advocate Program Update

The Women’s Advocate Program was developed to provide support to Members experiencing or impacted by domestic violence. OSSTF/FEESO knows, in addition to employers, unions have a role to play in protecting and supporting women in need. OSSTF/FEESO will train Women’s Advocates to work in every District.

Current Women’s Advocates were trained in November 2020, with follow-up training in February 2021 with remaining Advocates trained in July 2021. We have now set additional dates to provide training to Advocates in English, in Regions 1 and 2 in May/June 2023, with additional dates to train Advocates in Regions 3, 4, and 5 in the late summer of 2023.

Training for new Advocates who have not previously been trained will occur over three (3) days. This training will be in person. We ask that all new advocates commit to two (years) in the program.

We will also be providing a one (1) day refresher training for current Advocates who have been previously trained and wish to commit to a further two (2) years as a Women’s Advocate in their District.

Each District has been allotted 2-5 delegates based on current FTE membership. Districts are responsible for determining the process for selecting its delegates. Geography and number of Bargaining Units should be considered. Districts are strongly encouraged to identify, wherever possible, at least one delegate from each employer group and consider Members who self-identify.

The training will occur on June 20 – 22, 2023 in Thunder Bay for Region 1 and on May 23 – 25, 2023 in Sudbury for Region 2.

Registration is open for Region 1 and 2, Women’s Advocates only.

All Delegates may register by filling out the form, with all costs relating to training paid for by Provincial Office. Delegates will receive a confirmation email after they have applied. Registration closes on Wednesday May 17, 2023 for both Regions.

Please send registrations by emailing Yeshna.Beeyafan@osstf.ca.

If you have any questions, please contact Tracey.Marshall@osstf.ca.