Toronto: The biggest teachers union in Ontario, the 83,000-strong Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), has reached tentative central agreements with the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and the Council of Trustees’ Associations.
Separate tentative central agreements have been negotiated for ETFO’s teacher/occasional teacher and education worker members, said an ETFO statement issued yesterday.
“This has been a very prolonged and difficult bargaining process,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond. “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.”
President Hammond added that “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.”
ETFO will review details of its tentative central agreements and ratification vote process with ETFO local leaders and members next week.
ETFO is suspending strike action immediately pending the results of its central ratification votes.
ETFO will make no further comments to the media regarding tentative central agreements at this time.
Lecce welcomes agreement
Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, said: “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,” he added.
OECTA has 45,000 members. Now, from among the big three, only the second largest union, that of secondary teachers (OSSTF) with 60,000 members, has yet to reach an agreement.
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