Andrew Davis

Assistant Deputy Minister

Ministry of Education

Education Labour and Finance Division

315 Front Street West, 11^th Floor

Toronto ON M7A 0B8

Sent by email to edulabfinance@ontario.ca

RE: Joint Submission to the Ministry of Education on the Term of Collective Agreements Negotiated in the 2022 Round of Collective Bargaining

Dear Mr. Davis:

The following represents a joint submission from the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), and Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO), hereinafter referred to as “the Affiliates.”

The Affiliates recognize that in accordance with Section 41 (1) of the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014, the term of the collective agreements between the affiliates and the trustee associations is a period of three years and that the Ministry is seeking feedback on the possibility of collective agreements with a four-year term.  

The Affiliates appreciate the desire for stability in schools following the disruptions that COVID-19 caused over the past two years. It is important to affiliate members that we negotiate collective agreements that are fair and just. It is also critical that the Ministry makes investments to improve public education and provide the funding, support and resources required for a stable, high-quality public education system for students across the province. 

Without prejudice to our position that the term of the collective agreement is a matter for collective bargaining, the affiliates are of the view that the three-year term outlined in Section 41(1) of the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014 should be maintained for collective agreements that are to be renewed effective September 1, 2022. Further discussion of this matter may occur at the respective bargaining tables between ETFO, OSSTF, OECTA, AEFO, OPSBA, OCSTA, “CAE” and the Crown.

Sincerely, 

 [original signed]

Anne Lavoie                Sharon O’Halloran               David Church                  Chris Goodsir               

General Secretary       General Secretary               General Secretary           General Secretary        

AEFO                           ETFO                                  OECTA                            OSSTF