Ontario Teachers Contract Settlement

Issues that are negotiated at the provincial level are determined by the participants at the central table and cannot be negotiated locally. These problems are usually financial in nature or are problems that would affect all teachers in the province. « Our government has achieved our top priority – reaching a good agreement with a teachers` union that guides the priorities of students and parents, » Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a statement. There are 75 local bargaining units representing Catholic teachers throughout the province. The standoff with teachers has led to rotating strikes and school closures. The unions also staged several mass protests at Queen`s Park. The announcement also comes at a time when all publicly funded schools in Ontario are preparing for the March break before closing for two weeks to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, negotiations with teachers` unions had led to industrial action, including nude testimony and rotating strikes. The OSSTF agreement was reached after the school closed and negotiated electronically due to social distancing rules. Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a statement that the government`s goal was to reach agreements with the teachers` union that would advance the priorities of students and parents. TORONTO – Ontario elementary school teachers have ratified their new contract with the provincial government.

« As part of our government`s unique focus on ending this impasse, we have taken action to advance the priorities of students and parents and ensure fairness to teachers. Now is the time to do business with all the remaining union partners, as parents expect action to be taken and there will be no delays. We agree and will remain a positive and driving force at the bargaining table, guiding the priorities of parents and students.  » READ ALSO: Ontario Elementary School Teachers` Union and province reach interim agreement The union, which represents some 60,000 teachers and education workers, announced a tentative agreement with the province on April 20, ending a tense round of bargaining. #ONpoli pic.twitter.com/ohnzK14Xcj About 97 percent of teachers and casual teachers voted for the deal, the union said, and 94 percent of education workers voted to move forward with the new contract. Education Secretary Stephen Lecce said discussions revolved around compensation, with the government demanding a salary increase of one percent for teachers and about two percent for teachers. In recent months, the province has signed interim contracts with three other teachers` unions following controversial negotiations that have led to work stoppages and school closures. ETFO President Sam Hammond said in a statement that while negotiations were « long and difficult, » teachers remained steadfast in the face of cuts. Osstf had previously said he was fighting against the Progressive Conservative government`s moves to increase class sizes and mandatory e-learning – proposals the Conservatives largely rescinded a few months ago.

It offers an annual salary increase of one percent and a performance increase of four percent, sets the average class size at 23 students — up from 22 last year — and also includes two mandatory online courses for all high school students. According to the union, the new agreements include an investment in special education, the removal of a $150 million reduction in public elementary school spending, and « sustainable funding for member benefits. » The major unions had demanded two percent on wages and about six percent on benefits — and that they wanted concessions on a rule requiring hiring by seniority. .