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Board and elementary teachers ratify tentative agreement

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

For Immediate Release
April 30, 2009 

GUELPH, Ontario — The Upper Grand District School Board and the Upper Grand Contract Teachers’ Local of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) are pleased to announce that they have ratified the tentative collective agreement reached on Thursday April 23.

The agreement covers the period from September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2012 and was reached after a long session of bargaining over 21 meetings. In accordance with the government’s Provincial Discussion Table Agreement (PDTA), the salary increases are 2% in the first two years of the contract, then 3% in the remaining two years.

By August 31, 2012, the PDTA class size reduction enhancement will lower the grade 4 to 8 average class size by .5 below the 2008-09 level of 25.7 (students to teacher ratio).

Teacher’s preparation time currently 200 minutes over a five day week, will rise by 10 minutes each year of the contract topping out at 240 minutes at August 31, 2012. This is in accordance with the PDTA.

“Although there were many hours of negotiations, our talks were civil and respectful on both sides”, said Ruth Mclean, ETFO president.

“We have enjoyed a positive working relationship over many years which helped us implement both the PDTA as well as address local issues that were important to our members.”

Bob Borden, Chair of the board agreed. “We have worked well together in the past, and this round of negotiations was no exception, even though we needed time to deal with the provincial issues.

“In the end we arrived at an agreement that is in accordance with the PDTA, and is a fair local settlement that supports our joint goal of improving student learning.”

The Board ratified the new agreement on April 28, with the teachers’ ratifying on April 29.

The federation represents approximately 1,300 public elementary contract teachers who work in 62 schools in the Upper Grand district.

For more information: Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer, Upper Grand DSB – 519-822-4420 x 725 or Ruth McLean, President, UG ETFO – 837-0090

Categories: Media Releases