Agreement in Principle Reached With ETFO
Ontario Government Ensuring Fairness Among Teachers and Support Staff, Stability in Schools
Ontario has reached an agreement in principle with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario that will ensure stability in the province’s classrooms and provide fair and equitable compensation for teachers and support staff.
Since the beginning, our objective during these discussions has been clear – repair the relationship with the education sector so that we can continue to build one of the best education systems in the world. This agreement achieves that and also ensures we treat our teachers fairly and equitably, regardless of where they work." Liz Sandals, Minister of Education
The agreement would introduce a number of changes consistent with the agreement ratified by Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) members in April including:
- Providing employees with 11 sick days at 100 per cent pay, with an additional 120 days at 90 per cent pay.
- Providing 100 per cent pay for eight weeks of maternity leave, up from six.
- Enhancing the non-vested retirement gratuity payout similar to the agreement reached with OSSTF.
- Maintaining existing levels of support staff workers, such as early childhood educators and education assistants, while ensuring boards have the ability to manage within their allocation.
The agreement also includes a commitment to eliminate the pay difference between English public elementary teachers and their counterparts in Catholic and French public schools, starting Sept. 1, 2014. This will ensure fairness and consistency across the education sector for all elementary teachers and support staff in Ontario at the start of their next contract. Ensuring stability in the province’s schools and providing students with opportunities to succeed is part of the new Ontario government’s plan to build a prosperous and fair society.
Quick Facts
- As previously announced, the province expects to achieve $1.8 billion in savings through the 2012-2014 collective agreements across the education sector.
- ETFO members will have until June 23, 2013 to ratify the agreement in principle. Ratification would be followed by a period of local bargaining, to conclude no later than August 29, 2013.
- Current contracts in Ontario’s education sector are set to expire on Aug. 31, 2014.
- English public elementary teachers have been compensated two per cent less than other teachers in Ontario since their 2008 labour agreement was signed.
