OECTA Reaches Tentative Agreement With the Province

Thursday, 12 March 2020 16:53

UPDATE: The story has been updated to include comments from Minister of Education Stephen Lecce. The Province of Ontario has reached a tentative deal with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association.

UPDATE: The story has been updated to include comments from Minister of Education Stephen Lecce.

ONTARIO - The Province has reached a tentative deal with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association.

OECTA President Liz Stuart issued the following statement to the media this afternoon.

“OECTA has reached a tentative agreement with the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association and the Government of Ontario on central terms for a new collective agreement. Details of the agreement remain confidential pending ratification. In accordance with the Association’s ratification procedures, should the OECTA Provincial Executive and local unit presidents recommend approval, Catholic teachers will participate in a province-wide vote on April 7 and 8. Effective immediately, all OECTA strike action is suspended during the ratification process.”

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce issued the following statement today on the tentative agreement with the OECTA:

"Our Government achieved our foremost priority - landing a good deal with a teachers' union that advances the priorities of students and parents.

We are pleased to announce a tentative agreement has been reached between the Crown, OECTA, and the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association, the first agreement with a teachers' union in this round of collective bargaining, that will ensure stability for our kids and their parents.

As part of our Government's singular focus to ending this impasse, we took action to advance the priorities of students and parents and provide fairness to teachers. I would like to thank the mediator from the Ministry of Labour for their assistance in having all parties reach this tentative agreement.

The time is now to drive deals with all remaining union partners as parents expect action, not delays. We agree and will remain a positive and driving force at the bargaining table, advancing the priorities of parents and students."

OECTA is the first major education to reach a deal with the Province.