WELLINGTON COUNTY – While it’s unclear when classes will resume, the province and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) have reached a tentative deal that, if ratified, will keep ETFO members in the classroom when the time comes.
Late in the day on March 20, the two sides announced they had reached an agreement, after months of negotiations and strike action from the union.
“This has been a very prolonged and difficult bargaining process,” stated ETFO president Sam Hammond in a press release.
“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.”
Education minister Stephen Lecce said the agreement “builds further momentum for deals and progress that students deserve.”
The province now has tentative deals with two of the four major educator unions in the province.
The ETFO agreement comes just over a week after the government and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) signed an agreement on March 12, the same day the ministry announced it was closing schools until April 6 to help manage the COVID-19 outbreak.
The details of both deals will not be released until the agreements are ratified by union members. It is unclear when that will happen, given the COVID-19 restrictions in place across the province.
Lecce said the province remains “focused on landing further deals, to provide stability and certainty to students, parents, and educators.”
Hammond said the ETFO, which will review details of the agreement and ratification process with leaders and members next week, is suspending strike action until a vote can take place.
