Public elementary teachers vote 86 per cent to ratify deal

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 13, 2015
By Lisa Queen

Although Ontario’s elementary teachers have voted overwhelmingly to accept a proposed provincial contract, negotiations will continue at the local level, the York Region union president says.

“There is work still to be done,” David Clegg said in an email Friday morning after the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario announced 86 per cent of teachers voted in favour of the provincial deal.

“While one half of the equation, the provincial aspect, in respect to reaching an overall agreement has been reached, a local agreement still has to be negotiated and ratified with the York Region District School Board. What is striking to me (is), that unlike both OSSTF (Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation) and OECTA (Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association), not all ETFO locals voted in support.”

ETFO provincial will not provide the results of how each local voted, Clegg said.

The new contract was a hard fought deal, provincial union president Sam Hammond said.

“While this round of bargaining was exceptionally lengthy and difficult, ETFO members pressed for improvements related to student learning conditions such as special education, class size and composition, teacher professional judgment and health and safety issues,” he said in a statement.

According to the union, under the terms of the deal:

• ETFO, school board and education ministry representatives will develop recommendations on how to better support elementary students with special needs;
• A review of full-day Kindergarten (FDK) staffing and class sizes will be undertaken by representatives from ETFO, Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and the government;
• A similar review will be undertaken of class sizes in Grades 4-8;
• The right of teachers to use their professional judgment in the assessment and evaluation of students’ learning needs is now enshrined in collective agreements;
• Boards are now required to make every effort to avoid FDK/Grade 1 split classrooms; and
• Occasional teachers will be provided with classroom keys to ensure the safety of students and staff in the case of school lockdowns

“The Liberal government needs to focus its attention on elementary students. Class sizes in FDK, junior and intermediate grades that are in line with those at the secondary level and supporting elementary students with special needs should be priorities for the government and school boards on an ongoing basis,” Hammond said.