Elementary teachers union reaches tentative deal with province

Elementary Teachers Union Reaches Tentative Deal

by The Standard News Media Inc. | March 26th, 2020 Edition https://thestandardnewspaper.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Elementary-Union-tentative-Mar-26th-2020.mp3

DAN CEARNS The Standard

NORTH DURHAM/KAWARTHA LAKES: Another teachers union has reached a central collective bargaining agreement with the province of Ontario. On Friday, March 20th, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) announced they’ve reached tentative agreements with the Ontario government, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and the Council of Trustees’ Associations. “This has been a very prolonged and difficult bargaining process,” ETFO President Sam Hammond said, in a press release. “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.” The ratification vote process is expected to get underway this week. “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,” Mr. Hammond explained. Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce put out a statement expressing his happiness at reaching a deal. “This tentative ETFO agreement builds further momentum for deals and progress that students deserve, following last week’s tentative agreement signed with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA). We remain focused on landing further deals, to provide stability and certainty to students, parents, and educators.” Minister Lecce hinted at portions of the agreement in a video posted on his Twitter account, stating the government was focused on “keeping classroom sizes low” and “protecting all-day kindergarten.”