Catholic teachers ratify agreement with Province for new contract
Published April 8, 2020 at 10:16 pm
Members of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) have ratified the agreement with the Province for a new contract.
“This was a particularly difficult round of negotiations, in which the government was seeking to implement significant cuts to publicly funded education,” Liz Stuart, president of OECTA, said in a news release.
“Our bargaining team put in a tremendous amount of time and effort to reach an agreement that will allow Catholic teachers to continue providing high-quality education over the long term,” she continued.
The bargaining process was a long one, as it included more than 50 meetings, and included the unions’ first-ever province-wide strike action, including four one-day full withdrawals of service.
“Catholic teachers made it clear every step of the way that we would do what it took to stand up for students,” Stuart said.
“As a result, among other things, we have secured funding for programs and supports for vulnerable students, ensured that no student has to participate in mandatory e-learning, and enhanced processes related to the reporting of violence in the classroom,” she added.
Videos
Additionally, the agreement allows OECTA to continue pursuing a Charter challenge against the government’s cap on compensation increases.
Cover photo courtesy of OECTA’s Twitter
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising