OPSBA accepts Minister’s final offer to resolve elementary negotiations

(To view Minister Wynne’s offer in its entirety, go to www.opsba.org or the provincial government’s website at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/ )

OPSBA MEDIA RELEASE

At noon on Tuesday, February 10, Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne offered the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) a renewed and final opportunity to reach a fully funded Provincial Discussion Table (PDT) agreement that would set the parameters for successful local collective bargaining between public school boards and their 73,000 elementary teachers.

OPSBA has agreed to accept the Minister’s final offer for a number of reasons. A four year, fully funded deal provides a welcome measure of stability in schools for students and teachers. The deal will give staffing enhancements which translate into better program opportunities for students.

“OPSBA appreciates the government’s efforts to bring about a reasonable, fully funded settlement,” said Loralea Carruthers, vice president of OPSBA. “Our students and parents are depending on all of us to find a compromise solution that ensures stable learning environments in our schools.”

The Minister’s offer includes:
– Guaranteed salary increases compounded to 10.4% over the next four years (2, 2, 3, 3%).
– Additional teachers in an era of declining enrolment, providing for:
    – Targeted class size reductions in Grades 4 to 8;
    – Student Success teachers and Literacy and Numeracy coaches in Grades 7 and 8;
    – Additional arts and specialist teachers; and
    – 40 minutes per week additional Planning Time per teacher.

This offer requires both parties to move from the positions they held when discussions broke off last December. In light of today’s economic climate, the offer is reasonable, and paves the way for 4-year, fully funded collective agreements that support teaching, improved student learning and safety.

For more information contact:
Jeff Sprang
416-340-2540