OECTA, province reach tentative collective agreement

WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) has come to a tentative deal on a central collective agreement with the Ministry of Education and the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association.

The agreement was made on March 12, the same day the ministry announced it would be closing schools until April 6 to help manage the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Details of the agreement remain confidential pending ratification,” said OECTA president Liz Stuart.

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.

OECTA has been working under work-to-rule job action since Jan. 13 and held numerous strike days, both provincially and on a rotating basis.

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce said in a statement on March 12 this is “the first agreement with a teachers’ union in this round of collective bargaining, that will ensure stability for our kids and their parents.”

He said it’s time for deals to be made with other unions.

Reporter

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