Putting Members First: My Vision for 2026

To my friends and fellow members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, With Labour Day upon us, it feels like the right time to share my intentions for April. Many of you have asked, and I want to be clear: I will be running again for President in April, if re-elected by the members of Region 3.

From the very beginning of my activism, my focus has been simple: putting members first. That’s why I ran in 2019 against the previous administration, and again in 2024 against the current one. Each time, it’s been about bringing our union closer to what it should always be—a place where resources, decisions, and leadership are firmly rooted in serving the membership.

We’ve been close before. In past campaigns and in our shared struggles, I’ve seen the possibility of a union that truly prioritizes members and respects staff. But too often, we’ve fallen short. Under the previous administration, resources were pulled away from frontline supports. Today, not much has changed. Under the previous administration, our own staff and their unions faced unfair labour practices. Today, not much has changed. Under the previous administration, nepotism shut out talented activists and staff. Today, not much has changed.

These are not problems without solutions. They are problems of leadership and priorities. And they can be fixed—by putting members first in every decision, and by treating staff as partners in this work.

I have the experience, the resolve, and the lessons learned from both wins and near-wins to carry this fight forward. As we saw in 2022, simply changing leadership isn’t enough. We need a leader with a proven track record of putting members and staff first, and the courage to stay the course when it’s hard.

In 2026, I’m asking for your support once again. Vote for experience. Vote for real change. Vote Sara Labelle. Version française