After weeks of negotiations and tense discussions, it appears that the Ontario Secondary School Teachers` Federation (OSSTF) has finally reached an agreement with the Ontario government.
The agreement was announced on March 12th, 2020, after months of strike action and unrest across the province. While the details of the agreement have not yet been released, there are a few key points that have been made public.
One of the major sticking points in negotiations was class sizes. The previous government had planned to increase class sizes, which would have led to teacher layoffs and overcrowded classrooms. The OSSTF and other education unions had been fighting against this proposal since it was first announced.
Another major issue was compensation. The OSSTF was seeking a wage increase that kept pace with inflation, while the government was looking to impose a wage freeze. It appears that some compromise has been reached on this point, although the details are not yet clear.
Overall, it seems that the OSSTF has achieved some significant victories in this round of negotiations. The union has been successful in protecting class sizes and fighting for fair compensation for its members.
It is important to note, however, that the agreement is still subject to ratification by both the union and the government. If either party rejects the agreement, negotiations will likely resume and the possibility of further strikes remains.
Despite this uncertainty, the fact that the OSSTF has reached an agreement with the government is a positive development for Ontario`s students and teachers. It is hoped that this will lead to a more stable and productive school system going forward.