Three year agreements reached at central bargaining have been given the green light by Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario members.

The union says teacher and occasional teacher members voted 97 percent in favour while 94 percent of education worker members supported their new contract.

“Our goal was to defend public education and the working and learning conditions that have made Ontario’s education system one of the best in the world,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond. “While these negotiations were prolonged and difficult, our educators – with the support from parents and other community members – stood firm in the face of planned government cuts to education.”

Highlights of the ETFO central agreements include:
– A Supports for Students Fund that preserves 100% of special education and priority funding negotiated in 2017;
– The Kindergarten model, with its teacher/designated early childhood educator (DECE) team, is preserved for the life of the agreement;
– Proposed government funding cuts of $150 million to public elementary spending were withdrawn;
– Elementary class size language in local collective agreements is preserved and there will be no class size increases during the life of the agreement;
– Professional development/learning funds for education workers are increased; and
– Sustainable funding for member benefits will continue.

“Along with our members, we want to thank parents and other supporters for standing together to defend public education over this past year,” added Hammond.

The next step in the process involves local contract talks with school boards.

 

(File photo by station staff)

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