Local elementary school teachers have ratified a new contract with the Thames Valley District School Board.
Craig Smith, President of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, Thames Valley Teacher Local announced Monday that 96% of its members voted in favour of the deal.
A tentative agreement was reached between the two sides November 24.
"There were some important pieces around changing to the staffing process to allow movement, opportunities for teachers to move from school to school. We worked closely with the board to create a process that serves both parties well," says Smith. "There was also access to some unpaid personal days so that teachers can have some flexibility in terms of things they needed in their personal lives."
The issue of wage and benefit increases were dealt with at the provincial level before a deal could be hammered out between the local chapter of the ETFO and the board.
"When it came to things that have an impact on the teachers quality of life, the local table was quite important," says Smith. "We had said to the board at the beginning that we weren't interested in concession barganing and they took that point. We approached barganing different this time in the district. Rather than a list of here's what we want, here's what you want, we came to areas of common interest and worked our way through."
