From the Trillium Lakelands Elementary Teachers’ Local:
Following closely on the heels of an agreement reached between the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the Ontario Public School Boards Association and the Provincial Government, the Trillium Lakelands Elementary Teacher Local, representing over 700 permanent teachers, reached a tentative Collective Agreement with the Trillium Lakelands District School Board on December 21, 2023.
Members of the Local were informed of the new terms of the agreement on January 11, 2024 and voted 99% in favour of the new agreement on January 12. The School Board voted in favour of the agreement at the January 23rd Board Meeting.
“The new agreement made some significant gains for our members, including new top up language for members who are part time. This will enable our newest members to gain full-time permanent employment faster than they have in the past and will bring consistency and stability to the staffing in our schools. The Board was also interested in getting this language into the contract and it mirrors existing practices in the secondary panel. The discussions at the bargaining table were productive,” stated Local President Kellie Kirkpatrick.
The two sides met 5 times between April and December 2023 to bargain a new agreement. The only part of the agreement that is yet to be determined is the new salary grid. Salary and other cost items are negotiated at the provincial level. ETFO is currently awaiting the decision of Arbitrator William Kaplan on the
Bill 124 remedy. Bill 124 capped public sector wages for 3 years and teachers were affected from 2019-2022, a period in which inflation rates skyrocketed.
Once Arbitrator Kaplan reaches his decision on the remedy, ETFO will be engaging in arbitration around the salary increase during the current Central Agreement from September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2026.
“Getting both a Central and Local Collective Agreement in place brings stability to the education system in Trillium Lakelands, something that is much needed after the last 4 years. Our members are able to focus on what they do best teaching and supporting their students.”
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