TORONTO -- The Ontario government has reached a tentative two-year contract with about 10,000 of its administrative and professional employees.

They are represented by the Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario.

In a statement, the government says the centrepiece of the agreement "is a commitment to implement a two-year wage freeze."

Association president Gary Gannage says in light of the expected freeze and possible cuts to compensation, the association offered a two-year freeze at the start of bargaining.

Gannage says the association had two key objectives -- to maintain the core of the old contract and to negotiate a new job evaluation and classification system.

Despite what Gannage calls the employer's "direct attacks on these items," he was able to protect members' benefits and improve their job security.

Full details of the agreement to replace the one that expired on March 31, 2012 will be released following a ratification vote.

Gannage says this was the "most difficult and challenging round of bargaining" his association has ever faced.