Ontario public high school teachers reach tentative agreement with province
TORONTO, ON., APRIL 20, 2020 — Today, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) representing Ontario’s public high schools and the Province of Ontario announced that they have reached a tentative agreement.
Ontarion Minister of Education says the province now has at tentative agreement with Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), and the OSSTF Education Workers and the Council of Trustees’ Associations (CTA)
“These are extraordinary times. When we began negotiations nearly a year ago no one could have anticipated the situation we face today,” said OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof in a video statement.
The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed but according to Bischof the tentative agreement reached on behalf of the teacher/occasional teacher and education worker members does not entirely satisfy them.
“This tentative agreement does not satisfy all of our concerns but we recognize the current environment and the needs for students to have stability once this crisis is over,” said Bischof.
Ontario’s Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce said, “Our priority has always been to reach good deals with teachers’ and education workers’ unions, that advance the priorities of students and parents. That is exactly what we have done by reaching deals with every education union in this province.
““Our priority has been to reach a deal that respects our members and protects students,” said Bischof, who also said the teachers forced the province back from many of their proposals the province adding that the government was taking a “dangerous approach to education.”
Lecce pointed out in his statement that during this entire process, the government’s 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.”
Lecce also asserted that the province “remains determined to continuously strengthen teacher-led learning and virtual learning” for the benefit of its students.
“We continue to look to our educators to rise to the challenge and deliver quality education to every child, wherever they may live,” said Lecce.
Bischof concluded be saying, “We will continue our advocacy to protect the world class education system that we’ve built together. Our members and our students deserve that never ending effort.”
“We will remain focused on the government’s dual priority of keeping students safe while ensuring the continuity of education,” said Lecce.
With this final tentative agreement announcement, the province has now reached agreements with all of the province’s major teachers’ unions.
Quick Facts
- Parents still have time to apply for Support for Parents, financial support provided to parents for each day of school or child care their child missed on account of a labour disruption.
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