ABOUT DAVID SYKES

District Officer:
President: PSAT District 30 (2016–2017)
PSAT District 30: 2017–2025    
Chief Negotiator: 2019–2022 Collective Agreement
Chief Negotiator: 2022–2026 Collective Agreement
Negotiations Team: 2014–2017 Collective Agreement

I did not initially pursue teaching to become a unionist, but witnessing colleagues being mistreated and excluded motivated me to act as a steward for our members. Transitioning from teaching the deaf to serving as an educational coordinator, I have worked across three PSAT Provincial School campuses. I have a strong record of collaborating as well as challenging senior administration, the Ministry of Education, and union leadership to protect members and ensure fair treatment. I have represented support staff, educational assistants, itinerant instructors, and teachers. I am committed to union leadership that prioritizes accountability, transparency, and protects members rather than itself, aiming to build a union focused on grassroots membership where every voice matters and everyone is treated with dignity.
We need strong leadership moving forward
Leadership that is rooted in service, not status.

With nearly twenty years of teaching experience, I have worked directly with Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing learners. I am fluent in ASL and hold Blind Part I qualifications. Beyond teaching, I have coordinated educational programs and literacy initiatives, represented members in complex workplace legal matters, engaged with senior OPS administration and the Ministry of Education, and led challenging conversations in the realm of health & safety (both physical and mental health). I have also served as a strike captain multiple times, organizing our local when it is time to stand up to the Ministry of education. My advocacy, strategic thinking, and conflict resolution skills will be valuable in navigating the current challenges we are facing education. 

A union that listens. A union that protects.
A union that belongs to its members — not its Executive.

Member protection is essential—teachers facing false accusations or unfair investigations must never defend themselves alone; due process is non-negotiable. Members deserve timely communication about decisions affecting them, not after the fact. Strong, united collective bargaining at local and provincial levels is crucial to secure the protections, compensation, and conditions teachers deserve. Removing systemic barriers to participation, especially for Deaf and hard-of-hearing members, is vital. Amid growing vilification by government and media, we must restore respect, support well-being, and uphold professionalism for teachers.