Mark Kissel

Father, Husband, Activist, Teacher, & Musician.
Executive Officer, OSSTF Toronto Teachers Bargaining Unit.

[Mark Kissel @MarkOSSTF]

Proud to be at the Rally for Education at Queen's Park this weekend. Thousands of educators, students, & allies showed solidarity throughout Ontario, restore funding cut by the Conservative government & better working & learning conditions for educators & students.
#OSSTF #onted

[Mark Kissel @MarkOSSTF]

All aboard! This bus captain looks forward to helping union members and supporters at the Burlington pick-up location this Saturday starting at 11am!

No matter how you choose to travel, see you at Queen's Park this Saturday from 1-2:30pm!

[OSSTF Communications @osstf]

Today, OSSTF/FEESO announced a province-wide strike vote, joining Ontario’s other major education unions in taking this important step in the bargaining process.

“We are standing together for publicly funded education because regardless of which union you belong to, we are all facing the same pressures.” - #OSSTF President @marthahradowy

#OntEd #OntEdUnited

[Mark Kissel @MarkOSSTF]

Labour Day 2026! Didn't take enough photos!
#OSSTF
#onted
#solidarity

[OSSTF Communications @osstf]

JOINT STATEMENT: Minister Calandra said he was confident new collective agreements could be reached by the end of summer.

August 31 has come and gone, and more than 275,000 teachers and education workers are heading into the school year without new contracts.

The problem is bigger than missed timelines. Ontario’s publicly funded education system is under immense strain, and the Ford government is trying to take even more decision-making away from local communities and concentrate it at Queen’s Park.

Together with our education affiliates, we are calling for respect for the bargaining process, meaningful negotiations and real action on the challenges facing students and education workers.

Full joint statement: https://t.co/XryVhsKLWF

#OntEd #OntEdUnited

@AEFO_ON_CA
@ETFOeducators
@OECTAProv
@osbcucscso
#OSSTF
OCEW
EWAO

[OSSTF Communications @osstf]

Our contracts have expired. Our resolve is only growing.

On Wednesday, September 16, #OSSTF members will join teachers and education workers across Ontario for a province-wide Day of Action to defend publicly funded education!

Together with @ETFOeducators, @OECTAProv, @AEFO_ON_CA, @osbcucscso, @OPSEU, OCEW, and EWAO, we represent more than 275,000 workers 🙌🏽

We are united in demanding properly funded and fully staffed schools, better learning and working conditions, and real respect for the people who make public education possible.

The Ford government is counting on division. We are standing together.

Mark the date. More details to come.

#OntEdUnited #OnPoli #OntEd

[Mark Kissel @MarkOSSTF]

One of the most fun assignments for my job is organizing social events.

Today was an awesome day at the ballpark with 200+ @OSSTFtoronto Teachers' Bargaining Unit Members and their families/friends watching the @BlueJays defeat the Orioles 6-4!

And we were on the Jumbotron!

[Toronto Teachers @OSSTFtoronto]

Teachers at Virtual Secondary School and Leaside HS are seeing red over the massive underfunding of education in Ontario. They are also wearing red on this Province-wide Day of Action! #onpoli #osstf

[Toronto Teachers @OSSTFtoronto]

Teachers at Northview and SATEC are joining thousands of others across Ontario to speak out against the massive underfunding of education on this Day of Action. #osstf #onpoli

[Toronto Teachers @OSSTFtoronto]

Teachers at Lakeshore CI and Bloor CI are wearing red today on this Province-wide Day of Action because they are tired of the political games and underfunding of public education in Ontario. @osstf #onpoli

[Toronto Teachers @OSSTFtoronto]

OSSTF Toronto Teachers Executive wearing red today on this Province-wide day of action to speak out against the Ford government's massive underfuding of public education. Teachers across the city and the Province are joining in and demanding investments in our kids! #onpoli

[Toronto Teachers @OSSTFtoronto]

The Ford Government's beef with Toronto continues - TDSB has over twice as many students as the TCDSB - and yet the number of trustees will be the same. Clearly an attack on democracy for the people of Toronto. #onted #osstf

[Mark Kissel @MarkOSSTF]

A great weekend of music making with the @OakSymphony. My awesome low brass section knocked it out of the theatre playing Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony and Sibelius' Violin Concerto!

[Toronto Teachers @OSSTFtoronto]

OSSTF Toronto Teachers are wearing pink today to stand up against homophobia on International Day of Pink. #osstf

[Mark Kissel @MarkOSSTF]

This weekend I got to play alto trombone in Mozart's Requiem with the @BurlingtonSO and the @GuelphChoir.
Bucket list moment: playing the Tuba mirum solo in the Dies irae section of the mass.

[Toronto Teachers @OSSTFtoronto]

OSSTF Toronto is gathering with education workers, parents and community members at Queen’s Park in support of public education. Fighting for the future of Ontario. #osstf #onpoli

[OSSTF Communications @osstf]

Students, workers, and allies gathered at Queen’s Park today to demand action!

No tuition hikes.
No OSAP cuts.
Real investment in public education.

#OSSTF members were proud to join the rally and support students fighting for accessible education for all.

#SaveOSAP #HandsOffOurEducation #OntEd

[Mark Kissel @MarkOSSTF]

Proud to stand up to Doug Ford for post-secondary students and the future of our province!

[Toronto Teachers @OSSTFtoronto]

OSSTF Toronto was pleased to support the Hands Off Our Education Rally today at Queen's Park. All Out! #onted #onpoli #osstf

[OSSTF Communications @osstf]

Post-secondary students are organizing, and #OSSTF is proud to join them in demanding better!

On March 4 at 12:30 PM, students, instructors, parents, and community members will gather at Queen’s Park to demand NO cuts to OSAP and real investments in public education.

Join the rally hosted by @CFSON, outside of working hours, and send a clear message: Hands off our education.

[Mark Kissel @MarkOSSTF]

I am deeply saddened by Joel's sudden passing.

We knew each other from our student union days 25+ years ago, and reconnected through OSSTF when he became Associate General Secretary.

My heart goes out to his family during this extremely difficult time.

[OSSTF Communications @osstf]

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of OSSTF/FEESO’s Associate General Secretary, Joel Duff. This is an unimaginable loss to our Federation, as Joel represented the very best of us.

Joel joined OSSTF/FEESO in August 2023 as a dedicated labour activist committed to protecting public education. Joel spent the entire 21st century in service of the broader labour movement in a wide range of elected and staff roles. These included serving as the Ontario Organizer for the Canadian Federation of Students, Communications Director for the Ontario Federation of Labour, Executive Political Assistant to the President of the Canadian Labour Congress, and the Associate Executive Director of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations.

Joel came to OSSTF/FEESO with a clear vision: to defend and strengthen public education. He joined a union that had long been at the forefront of change but also stood on the cusp of transformation. With conviction and principle, he set out to strengthen the Federation’s organizing and mobilizing strategy for the challenges ahead.

Joel reflected the best qualities of a deeply committed colleague, comrade, and friend. He took the time to understand people and what made them unique, and believed that every person, regardless of their title or role, played a part in building a movement and he made that belief felt. Joel leaves a lasting impact on many across the country, within the labour movement and beyond. He will be remembered with great affection by his neighbours, coworkers, friends, allies, and comrades. OSSTF/FEESO is committed to continuing his work in fighting for a just society for students and workers alike.

We extend our sincere condolences to his partner, Lauren, their two children, and all his loved ones.