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Board and elementary occasional teachers ratify tentative agreement

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Upper Grand District School Board and the Upper Grand ETFO Occasional Teachers’ Local

For Immediate Release
April 30, 2009 

GUELPH, Ontario — The Upper Grand District School Board and the Upper Grand Occasional Teachers’ Local of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) are pleased to announce that they have ratified the tentative collective agreement reached on April 17.

The agreement covers the period from September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2012 and was reached after five days of meetings. It meets the conditions in the government’s Provincial Discussion Table Agreement (PDTA). By the end of the contract at August 31, 2012 the daily rate of pay will increase to $230.44.

Among the local issues addressed was capping the occasional teacher list at 37% of the board’s elementary full time equivalent (FTE) teacher allotment. The contract will also provide for interviews for up to two qualified occasional teachers when the board is unable to fill a full time teacher vacancy from the regular elementary teacher complement.

Also in the new contract, occasional teachers can now become eligible for extended health and dental benefits after completing teaching assignments equivalent to 80 consecutive FTE days instead of 96 days.

“We rely on our occasional teachers throughout the school year and value their work,” said board Chair, Bob Borden.

“I’m pleased that we have reached a settlement that benefits the members of the local and is affordable to the board.”

Marina Howlett, President of the bargaining unit is also pleased with the collective agreement. “Most of all the job for us is about the students we teach,“ she said.

“With our local concerns fairly considered and addressed we can focus on them and their learning needs.”

The Board ratified the new agreement on April 28, with the teachers’ ratifying on April 29. The members’ ratification vote showed strong support for the tentative agreement.

For more information: Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer, Upper Grand DSB – 519-822-4420 x 725 or Marina Howlett, Elementary Occasional Teacher Bargaining Unit President, – 837-0090

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