Public high school teachers and support staff have voted in favour of a recently negotiated agreement with the Ontario government, according to a press release issued Thursday evening.
“Our members have exercised their democratic rights within our federation to vote on the changes to the working conditions that were imposed on us by the Ontario government in January and they have voted to endorse those changes,” Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation president Ken Coran said in the release.
Eighty-four per cent of members voted in favour of the deal, the release says.
“This agreement respects the fiscal parameters defined by the Ontario government but also respects creative solutions to problematic issues identified by our members. In addition, the government has committed to working collaboratively to ensure a fair, transparent and democratic process is in place for the next round of collective bargaining,” Coran adds.
Voting took place from April 12-18.
The vote by OSSTF members follows union leaders voting 96 per cent in favour of the deal earlier this month.
According to Coran, the deal was reached after eight days of intensive bargaining and addresses issues such as sick leave and job security for support staff.
In a stament released simultaneously Thursday evening, Education Minister Liz Sandals said she is “pleased” by the vote result.
“Our government and OSSTF have come a long way toward rebuilding our relationship in a collaborative approach which reaffirms our commitment to delivering excellence in our secondary schools for Ontario’s students,” the release states. “That new way forward has also seen our teachers, support staff and students return to enjoying extra-curricular activities.”
Sandals said the reached agreement was the result of both sides “willingness to seek common ground in support of our common goal.”
“The result is an agreement that is fair for taxpayers, federation members and school boards, but the real winners are Ontario's students,” she adds.
