TORONTO - The Liberal government has finally reached a tentative contract agreement with the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario.
The agreement is similar to one struck with their high school counterparts in April, and includes a provision for 11 sick days a year at 100 per cent pay, with an additional 120 days at 90 per cent pay.
However, there's no confirmation the teachers will see their pay frozen for two years as the government was hoping, in order to help eliminate the deficit.
A government release says the elementary teachers will also get an enhanced retirement gratuity payout similar to one given to the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation.
The deal also includes a clause to eliminate the pay difference between English public elementary teachers and their counterparts in the Catholic and French public schools.
The elementary teachers will have until June 23 to ratify the agreement in principle, with local bargaining to be concluded no later than Aug. 29.
