Shady Salah – Media in Toronto
A tentative agreement has been reached with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) for both teachers and education workers, according to Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce.
ETFO has agreed to suspend all job action while awaiting ratification of the deal, which will remain confidential until it is ratified by all parties.
In a statement, Lecce says the government committed to maintaining class sizes and full-day kindergarten, investing in special education, and an increase in compensation.
The major unions had asked for two per cent on salary and around six per cent on benefits — and that it wanted concessions on a regulation that dictates seniority-based hiring.
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has reached tentative central agreements with the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and the Council of Trustees’ Associations.
Separate tentative central agreements have been negotiated for ETFO’s teacher/occasional teacher and education worker members.
“This has been a very prolonged and difficult bargaining process,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond. “We are very grateful for the support and unwavering solidarity of our members, and the public who have continued to stand up for public education and the supports that our students and educators need now and in the future.”
President Hammond added that “while ETFO’s Provincial Executive has endorsed the terms of these tentative central agreements, the decision to accept them ultimately rests with ETFO’s 83,000 members.”
ETFO will review details of its tentative central agreements and ratification vote process with ETFO local leaders and members next week.
ETFO is suspending strike action immediately pending the results of its central ratification votes.
ETFO will make no further comments to the media regarding tentative central agreements at this time.
ETFO represents 83,000 elementary public school teachers, occasional teachers and education professionals across the province. Its Building Better Schools education agenda can be viewed at BuildingBetterSchools.ca.
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