Catholic and French teachers ratify deals

Ontario’s Catholic and French teachers have ratified contracts with the provincial government.

The results of the votes, announced Wednesday, means all of the province’s teachers’ unions have now inked deals with the Ford government.

Members of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) — representing 45,000 elementary and secondary teachers in English-language Catholic schools — voted 91.7 per cent in favour of the central terms of the 2022-26 collective agreement.

Meanwhile, members of the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO) — representing 12,000 teachers in French-language elementary and secondary schools in Catholic and public schools — voted 93.5 per cent in favour of their deal.

“Our government is proud to have delivered deals with every teacher union, ensuring that students benefit from three years of stable inclass learning,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce in a statement to the Star. “We are focused on getting back-to-basics in Ontario classrooms, which is why in Budget 2024 we have increased investment to boost literacy, math, and STEM education.”

OECTA president René Jansen in de Wal said Catholic teachers are “thrilled to be able to move on and focus more on their classes,” but he didn’t pull any punches when discussing the education funding contained in Tuesday’s budget. He said that, in real dollars, it amounts to cuts over the past five years.

“There’s a lot more work we’re going to need to do,” he told the Star. “There’s a big fight ahead. The budget made that clear.”

Jansen in de Wal said reaching a deal was a “painfully slow negotiation” and “one of the most prolonged and difficult rounds of bargaining I’ve ever experienced in 20 odd years of local and provincial bargaining.”

OECTA’s negotiations stretched out over 20 months, with 58 days at the bargaining table.

OECTA says the agreement includes better access to information to address increasing violence in schools, improving resources and supports for student mental health and special education, and ensuring teachers get preparation and planning time.

But as previously reported by the Star, outstanding issues will go to binding arbitration, including salary, class sizes, paid leaves and supply teacher working conditions.

In a media release, AEFO President Anne Vinet-Roy said, “We showed the government that it must prioritize education. We will continue to advocate for better financing of the French language education system and more classroom support and resources.”

Last fall, deals were reached with the two unions that represent teachers in English-language public schools.