Collective Bargaining

Collective Bargaining is what establishes your Collective Agreement, the document that outlines a teacher’s salary, benefits, working conditions, sick leave, vacation, protection from arbitrary discipline, and much more.

All members are urged to engage and get involved in the bargaining process.

Ratification Vote Results

Members of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) have voted in favour of accepting central bargaining agreements reached with the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and the Council of Trustees’ Associations:

  • ETFO’s teacher and occasional teacher members voted 97% in favour of the 2019-2022 Teacher/Occasional Teacher Central Agreement; and
  • ETFO’s education worker members voted 94% in favour of the 2019-2022 Education Worker Central Agreement.

“Our goal was to defend public education and the working and learning conditions that have made Ontario’s education system one of the best in the world,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond. “While these negotiations were prolonged and difficult, our educators – with the support from parents and other community members – stood firm in the face of planned government cuts to education.”

Highlights of the ETFO central agreements include:

  • A Supports for Students Fund that preserves 100% of special education and priority funding negotiated in 2017;
  • The Kindergarten model, with its teacher/designated early childhood educator (DECE) team, is preserved for the life of the agreement;
  • Proposed government funding cuts of $150 million to public elementary spending were withdrawn;
  • Elementary class size language in local collective agreements is preserved and there will be no class size increases during the life of the agreement;
  • Professional development/learning funds for education workers are increased; and
  • Sustainable funding for member benefits will continue.

“Along with our members, we want to thank parents and other supporters for standing together to defend public education over this past year,” added Hammond.

ETFO locals will now work with their respective school boards to negotiate local collective agreements.

Central and Local Bargaining Process

What is Central Bargaining?

With the passage of Bill 122, the School Boards’ Collective Bargaining Act, 2014, all items with a monetary element are now negotiated at the provincial level between ETFO, the Ministry, and OPSBA (Ontario Public School Boards’ Association).

Items discussed at Central Bargaining include, but are not limited to:

  • Salary
  • Grids
  • Class sizes
  • Staffing levels
  • Benefits
  • Sick Days
  • Resources/Supports for Students with Special Needs
  • Full-Day Kindergarten
  • Addressing Violent Incidents
  • IEP processes

Visit the ETFO Collective Bargaining website for more information about the School Boards’ Collective Bargaining Act, 2014.

What is Local Bargaining?

Any item not considered a “central item” can be negotiated at the local level between ETT and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB).

Items discussed in Local Bargaining include, but are not limited to:

  • Teacher Performance Appraisal (TPA)
  • Transfer Procedures
  • School Staffing Committee
  • Preparation Time
  • Supervision Time
  • Staff Meetings
  • Report Cards
  • Extracurricular Activity

Bargaining Maps

Collective Bargaining Updates

Get Collective Bargaining Updates

Members, to ensure that you receive Collective Bargaining information in a timely manner please subscribe to receive ETT Electronic Communications.

ETFO also sends out a members-only Collective Bargaining eNewsletter. Please make sure your contact information is up-to-date with ETFO. You can update your contact information either online or by calling ETFO at 416-962-3836 and asking for Member Records (available 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.).

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the bargaining process, please contact your Executive Officer.

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