An arbitration award has been made for members of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario.
Ontario’s public elementary teachers and occasional teachers have been awarded an over 11% pay hike.
The award compensates nearly 80,000 members of ETFO for the impact of Bill 124 which restricted pay increases to one per cent before being deemed unconstitutional by the courts.
The increase will be spread over four years, retroactive to September 2022.
Teachers will receive an increase of three per cent for 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.
A further 2.75% will be applied during the 2024-25 school year and a final 2.5% for 2025-26.
The award also adjusts the rates provided to occasional teachers to a baseline average.
Teachers working for school boards earning rates lower than the baseline will increase to the new baseline plus an additional 2.75% increase starting in the next school board.
Those working above the baseline rate will also see a 2.75% increase with all occasional teachers receiving a 2.5% increase in 2025-26.
ETFO president Karen Brown welcomes the award, calling it fair.
“The Arbitration Board’s decision to award ETFO members more than the insulting offer proposed by the Ford government at the central bargaining table is proof that ETFO’s decision to reject their unacceptably low proposal and obstinate stance during this round of bargaining was sound,” says Brown in a release.
“This compensation award should have been achieved at the bargaining table. Instead of coming together to reach a fair and reasonable agreement, the Ford government was intent on devaluing our members who are already facing increased violence, insufficient supports for students with special needs, heavy workloads, and burnout.”
Education Minister Stephen Lecce responded to the ruling by saying it helps keep kids in school, he says was a priority during the recent contract negotiations.
