OSSTF and government reach deal
By Chad Ingram
The
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, along with the Ontario
Public School Boards Association, OSSTF Education Workers and Council of
Trustees’ Associations, has reached a tentative three-year deal with
the provincial government.
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, along with the Ontario
Public School Boards Association, OSSTF Education Workers and Council of
Trustees’ Associations, has reached a tentative three-year deal with
the provincial government.
Teachers have been working without a
contract since last summer, and while OSSTF job action, including
rotating one-day strikes, had been ramping up throughout the winter, the
COVID-19 crisis has meant that all publicly funded schools have been
closed since the March break, the school year recently resuming with an
online curriculum. The Ford government has said schools will remain
closed past May 4, and it’s unclear whether they will reopen before the
end of the school year.
contract since last summer, and while OSSTF job action, including
rotating one-day strikes, had been ramping up throughout the winter, the
COVID-19 crisis has meant that all publicly funded schools have been
closed since the March break, the school year recently resuming with an
online curriculum. The Ford government has said schools will remain
closed past May 4, and it’s unclear whether they will reopen before the
end of the school year.
Previously, the government had backed down
on plans to increase class sizes and some requirements for minimum
amounts of e-learning, and while the details of the tentative agreement
are to remain confidential until the deal is ratified, major media
outlets are reporting the union agreed to the government’s offer of a
one per cent salary increase for each of the three years of the deal.
on plans to increase class sizes and some requirements for minimum
amounts of e-learning, and while the details of the tentative agreement
are to remain confidential until the deal is ratified, major media
outlets are reporting the union agreed to the government’s offer of a
one per cent salary increase for each of the three years of the deal.
“Our
priority has always been to reach good deals with teachers’ and
education workers’ unions, that advance the priorities of students and
parents,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a statement on April
20. “That is exactly what we have done by reaching deals with every
education union in this province. During this entire process, our aim
was to ensure our young people receive the best education we can offer,
so they can develop the skills they need to succeed in the classroom and
in the jobs of the future.”
priority has always been to reach good deals with teachers’ and
education workers’ unions, that advance the priorities of students and
parents,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a statement on April
20. “That is exactly what we have done by reaching deals with every
education union in this province. During this entire process, our aim
was to ensure our young people receive the best education we can offer,
so they can develop the skills they need to succeed in the classroom and
in the jobs of the future.”
OSSTF president Harvey Bischof
acknowledged the ongoing COVID-19 crisis had contributed to the
negotiations getting wrapped up. “These are extraordinary times,”
Bischof said in a press release. “When we began negotiations nearly a
year ago, no one could have anticipated the situation we face today.”
“While
this tentative agreement does not satisfy all of our concerns, we
recognize the current environment we are in and the need for students to
have stability once this emergency is over,” Bischof continued.
acknowledged the ongoing COVID-19 crisis had contributed to the
negotiations getting wrapped up. “These are extraordinary times,”
Bischof said in a press release. “When we began negotiations nearly a
year ago, no one could have anticipated the situation we face today.”
“While
this tentative agreement does not satisfy all of our concerns, we
recognize the current environment we are in and the need for students to
have stability once this emergency is over,” Bischof continued.
A statement from the OPSBA also acknowledged the role the COVID-19 crisis had played in negotiations.
“Despite
the many operational challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to
the collective bargaining process, all of the parties continued to work
towards reaching a deal that will help bring stability to our system
during what is obviously a rapidly evolving situation,” said OPSBA
president Cathy Abraham in a press release. “Our secondary teachers and
education workers will play a very important role in guiding our
students through the challenging time ahead. This agreement is a
recognition that we value the contribution they make to the educational
experience of our students every day. We look forward to working
together to ensure that we are able to provide an educational experience
that is focused on the success and well-being of our students.”
“Despite
the many operational challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to
the collective bargaining process, all of the parties continued to work
towards reaching a deal that will help bring stability to our system
during what is obviously a rapidly evolving situation,” said OPSBA
president Cathy Abraham in a press release. “Our secondary teachers and
education workers will play a very important role in guiding our
students through the challenging time ahead. This agreement is a
recognition that we value the contribution they make to the educational
experience of our students every day. We look forward to working
together to ensure that we are able to provide an educational experience
that is focused on the success and well-being of our students.”
