There appears to be contentment in the public elementary school classrooms as the union, representing teachers, has a tentative deal with the province, which if ratified, would mean no strikes.

Both sides appear pleased.

”This agreement brings us one step closer to ensuring there will be no province-wide job actions or strikes in all English-language public schools for the next three-years,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce

 

 

He says there will be items in the deal going to binding arbitration.

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) says details of the agreement will be shared with members Thursday.

A ratification vote is being scheduled.

 

 

 

ETFO President Karen Brown says the tentative agreement for teachers and occasional teachers ”protects their collective agreement entitlements and also addresses key bargaining goals.”

Elsewhere, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation previously agreed to binding arbitration, eliminating the possibility of strikes during bargaining and for the next three-years.

The government has already agree to give public high school teachers and ETFO education workers retroactive salary increases as compensation for capped wages under the law known as Bill-124.

Amounts for two of the three-years have been agreed to, while the third-year increase will be decided at arbitration.

The province is still bargaining with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, whose members also voted in favour of a strike, as well as the union representing teachers in the French public system.