TORONTO — Today, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, issued the following statement regarding a tentative agreement with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (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.
Hopefully the deal will pass and be used as a platform for the other unions.